PHILADELPHIA – May 11, 2026  – Today, the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) and Philadelphia Green Capital Corp. (PGCC), joined by City administration and state leaders, members of City Council, and former Council President Darrell Clarke, announced the 10-year results of the Philadelphia Energy Campaign, highlighting $2 billion of economic impact, more than 11,000 jobs created, and over $1.4 billion in energy savings for the City of Philadelphia and its residents.

Launched in 2016 in partnership with City of Philadelphia administration leadership and Philadelphia City Council, the Philadelphia Energy Campaign set ambitious goals: $1 billion of clean energy investments and up to 10,000 jobs by 2026, benefiting neighborhoods across Philadelphia. Results of a new study show the Campaign catalyzed $1.3 billion of economic investment, surpassing the investment target by 30 percent while exceeding the jobs goal.

The 10-year economic impact report produced by Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI) demonstrates how strategic investment in clean energy drives economic growth, reducing costs for individuals, local institutions, and municipal government, while delivering meaningful benefits for residents, businesses, and taxpayers.

“Our city’s clean energy is delivering cost savings – and jobs – to the benefit of Philadelphia residents and local businesses, which are top priorities for our administration,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “Our partnership with the Philadelphia Energy Authority has not only helped us get closer to a Safer, Cleaner and Greener city, but the positive economic indicators are off the charts. I am thankful to the many City departments that have worked collaboratively with PEA to help generate these impressive results.” 

“The Philadelphia Energy Campaign demonstrates that clean energy is an economic development strategy, a cost-saving strategy, and a public health strategy all in one,” said Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson. “Results of the Philadelphia Energy Campaign signal what’s possible through collaboration, as clean energy touches every part of how our city functions. And by investing in workforce development, we are ensuring our residents can access these emerging opportunities, whether through jobs in the growing clean energy economy or related construction trades.”

With $14.7 million in City allocations over 10 years, PEA helped unlock over $1.3 billion in total investment – an extraordinary return of approximately 90 times the public dollars committed, underscoring PEA’s role as a responsible steward of public resources.

“The Philadelphia Energy Campaign shows what is possible when public investment is used to drive economic growth, create jobs and lower costs for residents,” said State Representative Jordan A. Harris, Majority Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. “This work has helped generate more than $1.3 billion in investment, create more than 11,000 jobs and deliver real energy savings for Philadelphia. Just as importantly, the next phase will modernize public buildings, including health centers and homeless services facilities, so the people who live, work and receive services in these spaces are in safer, healthier and more comfortable environments.”

“Over the last ten years, the Philadelphia Energy Campaign exceeded every goal we set, and we redefined what’s possible when vision meets action,” said Emily Schapira, CEO of the Philadelphia Energy Authority. “With collaboration across government, schools, utilities, service organizations and industry, this initiative demonstrates clean energy crosses all sectors and all parts of our lives. Clean energy is not just one solution; it’s everything: jobs for people, revenue for the city, and healthier, more resilient communities.”

The Campaign generated significant new revenue for the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Over ten years, clean energy investments helped produce more than $25 million in tax revenue for Philadelphia and over $50 million statewide, funding that supports essential services, infrastructure, and community priorities.

Overall economic activity generated by the Philadelphia Energy Campaign includes:

• $2 billion in economic output in Philadelphia, supporting 11,415 jobs, $698.1 million in employee compensation, and $25.3 million in tax revenue; 
• $2.4 billion statewide, supporting 12,855 full-time equivalent jobs and $801.4 million in employee compensation as well as $50.1 million in tax revenue; and 
• A resulting $73.6 million in combined tax revenue for the City and Commonwealth.

PEA programs modernize the region’s energy infrastructure. Clean energy projects have delivered over $1.4 billion in savings, while helping to cut municipal carbon emissions by nearly half, improving health and safety for those living and working across Philadelphia. The result is a ripple effect: savings generated by these programs are reinvested into local economies, the jobs created help to sustain our communities, and the improved infrastructure enhances public safety, health, and quality of life. 

Continuing this momentum, PEA and the City of Philadelphia are next retrofitting 14 major municipal buildings — among the City’s largest energy users — including City Hall, the Municipal Services Building, One Parkway Building, and the Criminal Justice Center. The project involves collaboration between PEA, the Office of Sustainability, Office of Homeless Services, Department of Public Health, and Department of Public Property. 

This Quadplex + Community Health project will deploy energy efficiency improvements throughout the City’s four large downtown buildings, seven health centers, and three homeless services centers, resulting in greater comfort and quality of care for residents, and long-lasting, more affordable, healthy City infrastructure.

“Through the Philadelphia Energy Campaign, the City is investing in clean energy and advancing ambitious energy goals that deliver a trifecta of environmental, quality of life, and economic improvements,” said Elizabeth Lankenau, Director of the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability. “The Quadplex + Community Health project is an example of an ongoing initiative that goes beyond helping the City reach its goal of carbon neutrality; it is saving energy and lowering costs, while improving the quality of facilities where residents access critical services.”

Read the full report to learn more about the transformative Philadelphia Energy Campaign and what it means for Philadelphia’s future.

The post Turning $14.7 Million into $1.3 Billion: Philadelphia Energy Campaign Surpasses Goals, Collaborates with City to Grow Local Clean Energy Economy first appeared on Philadelphia Energy Authority.

More than 60,000 low-income Philadelphians live in homes with critical health and safety issues – from failing roofs and major water damage to broken heating systems. For too many households, these problems eventually force them out of the homes they or their families have owned for generations.

Green & Healthy Homes Initiative’s report found that Built to Last provides a comprehensive approach to these conditions, helping stabilize hundreds of lives. During the program’s first three years, Built to Last delivered coordinated health and safety repairs along with clean energy upgrades to more than 400 of Philadelphia’s low-income homeowners.

Read the Report

Watch the Webinar

Support Built to Last

Key Findings

• Low-income Philadelphia homeowners are keeping $300-$1,000 in their pockets per year – and their biggest investment in their possession – because of Built to Last. 
• Prior to repairs, a majority of participating households faced serious health and safety risks, including structural deficiencies (54%) and exposure to environmental hazards such as lead, asbestos, and mold (24%).
• After repairs, participants reported improved indoor air quality, fewer safety hazards, and greater overall comfort. The evaluation recorded high levels of participant satisfaction, with 84% recommending the program.
• For every $100 of Built to Last funding, the program brings in another $61 in partner program investments to provide a whole-home intervention. The average partner program investment is more than $15,000 per home.
• Built to Last interventions are coordinated across up to 10 siloed programs, integrating nearly $14 million from philanthropic and intergovernmental sources raised by PEA and our green bank affiliate, the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp.

With expanded funding, Built to Last can meet the goal of preserving 10,000 homes by 2032.

Built to Last is energy that moves Philadelphia forward. Support us

The post Built to Last Evaluation Highlights Philadelphia’s Progress Preserving Affordable Housing first appeared on Philadelphia Energy Authority.

Supported by Exelon and administered by the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, this fund will provide one-time $500 bill credits for income-qualified residential customers. The Relief Fund targets customers who tend to fall between the cracks, earning too much to qualify for traditional assistance, but not enough to comfortably afford rising energy bills.

PEA commends PECO for this important and timely action. High temperatures, high demand, and high supply costs are creating a perfect storm for utility prices to escalate at a time when consumers are already facing rising costs. Relief funding is essential for preventing service shutoffs and for helping utility customers stay safe and healthy in their homes.

As an organization that works at the intersection of clean energy, economic development, and poverty alleviation, PEA also sees the current affordability crisis as a moment for utility leaders to look beyond emergency assistance and toward more sustainable, long-term solutions. Greater adoption of clean energy is vital to address the root causes of high energy burdens, particularly for low- and moderate-income households.

At PEA, our mission is to drive equitable clean energy investments that create jobs, lower utility bills, and support public health. Built to Last provides comprehensive home repairs that enable weatherization and energy-saving services. Solarize Greater Philadelphia is making solar energy accessible to homeowners regardless of income, lowering their electricity bills dramatically. We’ve seen firsthand how holistic interventions like these can transform homes and lives.

When we upgrade a home with insulation, air sealing, a high-efficiency heat pump, and solar panels, we are doing more than lowering  energy costs, we are building resilience. By reducing year-round utility costs, our programs also reduce dependence on emergency utility bill relief.

Pairing heat pumps with rooftop solar is one of the most effective ways to address both summer cooling and winter heating costs in a sustainable manner. This integrated approach not only reduces bills, it protects residents from the volatility of energy markets and the growing frequency of extreme weather events linked to climate change.

PECO’s new fund is especially noteworthy because it targets customers with incomes between 151-300 percent of the federal poverty level, a group often overlooked by traditional aid programs. These households face real energy insecurity, yet typically do not qualify for low-income programs like LIHEAP or CAP. This is the same population that PEA aims to support through our energy equity and climate adaptation initiatives.

While one-time assistance is vital in the short term, building long-term energy security requires investing in the homes themselves. We encourage regional utilities, philanthropic partners, and policymakers to think holistically about energy affordability: not just through bill credits, but through capital improvements, rooftop and community solar, and home electrification.

As we navigate the dual crises of climate change and housing affordability, we must continue to align emergency support with forward-looking investments that lower structural energy burdens. Relief funds are necessary and so are scalable programs that deliver lasting change.

We applaud PECO and United Way for stepping up with a rapid response to summer energy cost pressures. Let’s use this as a springboard to push for clean energy solutions that serve as both climate action and poverty relief.

Resources

• Learn about the PECO Customer Relief Fund
  
• See if you qualify for Built to Last or Solarize Greater Philadelphia
  
• Explore energy bill assistance tools from PECO

The post New PECO Relief Fund Highlights Urgency of Long-Term Energy Solutions first appeared on Philadelphia Energy Authority.

Recently, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved updates to Pennsylvania’s Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP). The utility-sponsored program provides weatherization and energy usage reduction services to assist the state’s most energy-burdened customers.

The new order presents significant opportunities for program administrators. PEA anticipates that, under the new rules, PEA can collaborate with our utility partners to further improve the effectiveness and reach of programs like PEA’s Built to Last (BTL) and Solar for All. 

Prioritization of Coordination with Other Programs

One of the most impactful changes is the new prioritization criteria for LIURP client selection. Utilities must now consider coordination with other programs as a key factor when determining eligibility.  Homeowners who participate in BTL, combining home energy retrofits with health, safety, and climate resilience measures, should be recognized as a priority for LIURP participation. This could allow clients who are already engaged in PEA’s programs to receive additional support, enhancing the overall impact of multiple initiatives without redundant applications or services.

Expanding Access to More Customers

Previously, LIURP participation was limited to utility customers who were  enrolled in a utility’s Customer Assistance Program (CAP). The new rules state that all low-income customers, who otherwise meet eligibility requirements, must be allowed to participate in LIURP, especially if they have high-usage, regardless of CAP participation. This will allow PEA to reach a larger portion of Philadelphia’s population, including those who may not yet be enrolled in CAP but still face significant energy challenges.

Flexibility for Incidental Repairs and Health & Safety Measures

The new regulations now allow LIURP funds to cover incidental repairs and necessary health and safety measures required to ensure the proper installation of weatherization measures. This will allow LIURP to serve more homes with fewer deferrals. When coordinated with Built to Last, this may also enhance the impact of retrofits by ensuring that all necessary repairs are completed.

De Facto Heating 

A new formal definition of “de facto heating” , acknowledging that many households use alternative heating sources, such as portable electric heaters, when their primary heating system fails. This opens the opportunity to systematically address electric de facto heating using LIURP funding when the original non-functioning heating source was not electric (LIURP does not allow for fuel switching). In other words, recognizing de facto heating could enable the installation of high-efficiency electric heat pump systems in homes to deliver usage reduction. 

Space Cooling Added to the Electric Baseload

For many low-income households, cooling needs are just as critical as heating. The updated regulations now officially include space cooling as part of the electric baseload, ensuring that homes with significant cooling needs will be prioritized for energy-saving measures. This is especially beneficial in the face of increasing heatwaves, allowing PEA’s programs to offer a more comprehensive approach to addressing both heating and cooling challenges.

Improved Tracking and Referrals for Deferred Homes

For homes that cannot immediately participate due to deferred repairs, the new regulation mandates that utilities refer these households to other services and track them for future re-evaluation. This aligns with PEA’s model of holistic support, where clients are referred to the right resources and services to address deferred needs, helping to ensure that no one is left behind in the effort to improve home energy efficiency.

In summary, these new amendments to Pennsylvania’s LIURP regulations represent a significant step forward in expanding the reach, flexibility, and impact of energy assistance programs. With better coordination, expanded eligibility, and allowances for health and safety measures, PEA’s initiatives stand to benefit from these updates, ultimately helping more low-income households in Philadelphia reduce their energy burdens and improve their quality of life.

The post Revisions to Pennsylvania’s Low-Income Usage Reduction Program (LIURP) Will Benefit Philadelphia’s Energy-Burdened Residents first appeared on Philadelphia Energy Authority.

The Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) launched Solarize Philly in 2017 as a group discount program to support home and business owners to install rooftop solar at a reduced price with consumer protections. Rooftop solar helps Philadelphians power their homes with clean energy while lowering their utility bills, creating local workforce opportunities for installers, and reducing carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

As of 2021, over 750 households from across the City have already gone solar through Solarize Philly, making it the largest Solarize program in the nation. For every 100 installs, the program creates 15 jobs. 

To further the goal that all Philadelphians enjoy clean, affordable, and local energy resources, Solarize Philly has expanded its offerings in Phase 5 – which is currently underway – to ensure that homeowners of all income levels can opt to go solar with a no money-down lease option and no minimum credit score. 

So far, in Phase 5, 1,200 households have signed up for the program and 33 new contracts have been signed. We thank our installers Solar States, Superior Solar Design, and PosiGen for helping us to deliver affordable and accessible clean energy to homeowners while creating jobs. 

Recognition like this resolution, introduced by Councilmember Gilmore Richardson, helps spread the word of the program’s success and the new opportunities for Philadelphians to go solar. 

Read the full text of the resolution and sign up for Solarize by January 31, 2022 to take advantage of discounted pricing!

The post Philadelphia City Council Celebrates the Expansion of Solarize Philly first appeared on Philadelphia Energy Authority.

Theme: Be A Solar Hero For Your Community

Share your unique Solarize Philly story to inspire your neighbors to follow your lead! Submit a 2-3-minute video clip and tell us what inspired you to go solar. You can include the following in your story:

• Why you went solar
• Your experience with the installation process
• The impact of going solar (for example, changes to your electric bill)
• Message to your neighbors

Video Submission Guidelines

• Aim to keep your video clip at 2-3 minutes
• Be sure to film the video clip horizontally or in landscape mode
• Make sure the audio is clear with no background noise

To submit your entry for the competition, click here.

Top submissions will receive prizes sponsored by PECO. The winning video story may be featured on PEA and Solarize Philly websites and social media.

The post Solarize Philly Video Stories Competition 2021 first appeared on Philadelphia Energy Authority.

Theme: Create, Design and Resolve

Competition Category #1: Creators

Recommended Age: 5-8 years old

Look around, get inspired!

Create a drawing or a collage using materials (newspapers, household items, magazines, cardboard) in your home to show the benefits of solar energy.

Competition Category #2: Designers

Recommended Age: 9-13 years old

Your future, Your turn!

Create artwork to show how solar energy can impact our future. For example, you can create a painting to show how solar energy will lead to a sustainable future for our city and community.

Competition Category #3: Resolvers

Recommended Age: 14-18 years old

Share your take on the changing world!

Create artwork to propose a solar solution to an existing problem in your community. For example, how can solar energy be used to overcome environmental issues and promote a green economy? Share your thoughts through your artwork!

Competition Guidelines:

• Keep your submission under 24” x 24”
• Original artwork must be two-dimensional and can be in the form of a drawing, painting or collage
• Any medium can be used
• Scan or take a clear, high-res photo of your completed artwork and submit it as a JPG or PDF file
• Deadline: October 29th

To submit your entry for the competition, click here.

Top submissions will receive prizes sponsored by PECO. The winning artwork may be featured on PEA and Solarize Philly websites and social media.

The post Solarize Philly Art Competition 2021 first appeared on Philadelphia Energy Authority.

The post Eyeing COVID Recovery, Philadelphia Launches New Tools for Multifamily Energy Projects first appeared on Philadelphia Energy Authority.

A Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) is an attribute that represents 1,000 kWh of electricity generated by solar. The Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act of 2004 (AEPS) requires utilities and electricity suppliers to demonstrate that 0.5% of the electricity they supply is generated by solar. Rather than purchasing solar energy directly, they have the option to purchase SRECs from solar projects in Pennsylvania to demonstrate their compliance with this requirement. Celentano discussed how to sell SRECs to energy brokers or aggregators and what the process entails.

Once a solar PV system is installed, owners are able to monitor the generation using systems such as SolarEdge or Enphase. These monitoring systems track how much energy is generated by the solar PV system on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis. These monitoring systems also alert the homeowner and solar installer if there are any problems with the system. McCrohan showed how to use both interfaces and how different features can be used to monitor the system.

To learn more about SREC trading and how to use and understand monitoring systems, you can watch the webinar below. For any questions, please email us at solarize@philaenergy.org.

The post SRECs and Monitoring 101 Webinar first appeared on Philadelphia Energy Authority.

Alon Abramson, Program Manager at PEA led the workshop and discussion about low and moderate income green housing to start paving the way to assisting property owners and operators to execute these projects. The role of PEA in this market is to use clean energy to accelerate development and, deeply pertinent at this moment in time, to assist in improving public health. This work is a part of PEA’s Philadelphia Energy Campaign, a 10 year initiative to stimulate $1 billion of clean energy investment and create 10,000 jobs in Philadelphia municipal, school district, residential, and commercial properties.

BlocPower, a Brooklyn-based energy technology startup, introduced BlocMaps Philly, a tool that will be launched in early 2021. BlocPower was selected by the City of New York to help solve the problem that this workshop was beginning to tackle: how do you complete energy efficient retrofits in small and medium sized apartment buildings with low available capital? BlocMaps offers the first step by providing a digital model and database of Philadelphia multifamily buildings with information about the potential for energy savings interventions in those properties. The modeling is being done by with public and private building data, including energy benchmarking data, building audit reports, and utility bill history. 

Inclusive Prosperity Capital is a non profit financial institution and has partnered with PEA to introduce predevelopment and project implementation loans. IPC designs their products to help owners and residents save on energy and operating costs, improve living and working conditions, and preserve affordable housing. These new loans are specifically created to address older properties that need energy improvements. The Navigator predevelopment loan is designed to help owners assess the energy efficient design that will deliver the highest return on investment. The Catalyst project implementation loan product is made to fund the cost of implementing energy efficiency, renewable energy, and health and safety improvements for building retrofits.

The attendees of the workshop were broken into small groups in between demos. The groups consisted of both property owners, service providers and engaged in discussions about: finding services for assessment and design of energy efficiency projects, assessing the initial viability of a project, and securing project financing. To learn more about these new tools and how PEA is tackling these challenges, visit this page. You can also watch a recording of the workshop and read the discussion takeaways. 

The post PEA Hosts Multifamily Housing Green Retrofit Workshop first appeared on Philadelphia Energy Authority.