Ellie Kerns
Climate and Clean Energy Advocate, PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center
This interactive map lets you explore a selection of renewable energy and energy efficiency case studies from each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.
Climate and Clean Energy Advocate, PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center
Executive Director, PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center
From Erie County to Philadelphia County and from Wayne County to Greene County, exciting renewable energy projects are on the rise in counties all across the Keystone State. In red, blue and purple counties, and across rural, suburban and urban counties, Pennsylvania communities are making huge strides to bring wind, solar, and energy efficiency projects online at a rapid clip.
The transition to clean energy is happening in every corner of Pennsylvania. To highlight this transition, we picked one renewable energy or energy efficiency project in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. These projects range from big wind farms that are generating enough electricity to power thousands of homes, to small rooftop solar installations on local businesses that help their communities see that a transition to renewable energy is possible.
Some of these impressive projects include: the nation’s largest solar array installed on a sloped surface (Allegheny County), an award winning family organic farm that runs on solar power (Beaver County), and Pennsylvania’s largest wind farm (Cambria County). These case studies are just the tip of the clean energy iceberg in the Keystone State – and show a clear path forward for powering the Keystone State with 100% locally produced, renewable energy.
Explore innovative clean energy projects county by county across Pennsylvania, then read below for more information on how you can join the momentum and bring Pennsylvania even closer to 100% renewable energy.
Right now, there are great opportunities to build on this momentum of the clean energy transition and implement more renewable energy in the state. For example, tax credits and incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act will help individuals, businesses, cities, states and community organizations save energy, save money and act on climate change, including tax credits for rooftop solar and electric vehicles.
Ellie works on PennEnvironment’s Climate and Clean Energy program, working to fight climate change and promote good clean energy policies and implementation in Pennsylvania. Ellie leads PennEnvironment’s efforts to transition away from polluting gas-powered lawn equipment, and promotes impactful clean energy and energy efficiency projects throughout the commonwealth. Ellie lives in Philadelphia, where she enjoys gardening, baking and photography.
As executive director, David spearheads the issue advocacy, civic engagement campaigns, and long-term organizational building for PennEnvironment. He also oversees PennPIRG and other organizations within The Public Interest Network that are engaged in social change across Pennsylvania. David’s areas of expertise include fracking, global warming, environmental enforcement and litigation, and clean energy and land use policy in Pennsylvania. David has served on the environmental transition teams for Gov. Tom Wolf and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, and been named one of Pennsylvania’s “40 under 40” environmentalists by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Under David’s leadership, PennEnvironment has won the two largest citizen suit penalties in Pennsylvania history against illegal polluters under the federal Clean Water Act. David lives in South Philadelphia with his family, where they’re involved in their local elementary school, community garden and civic association.