Philadelphia's green energy footprint just got a lot more significant. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker announced the completion of the Adams Solar Project, a whopping 70-megawatt facility that covers approximately 700 acres and is poised to supply roughly a quarter of the city's municipal buildings' electricity with renewable energy. In a move that marks the City's latest advancement toward its 2030 clean energy goal, officials estimate that Philadelphia's municipal operations now operate with nearly 30 percent renewable electricity.
The Adams Solar Project, which is notably one of Pennsylvania's biggest solar endeavors, harnesses power from about 230,000 solar panels. Mayor Parker, while addressing city officials and partners at City Hall, highlighted the dual benefits of the initiative, stating, "Purchasing electricity from the Adams Solar Project will reduce our carbon emissions, help meet our climate goals, and support family-sustaining regional jobs in the renewable energy sector," as reported by the City's official website. This initiative aligns with the City's Municipal Energy Master Plan, ambitious in its target to power all municipal facilities with 100 percent renewable energy by the decade's end.
In line with this sustainable ethos, The Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) negotiated a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement with Energix Renewables – the owner of the solar installation. This long-term commitment not only locks in a low, fixed rate for the City's electricity costs, potentially saving money over time, but also represents a significant stride towards Philadelphia's overarching mission for a cleaner future. To push this envelope further, PEA is now courting additional renewable energy projects through an open Request for Proposals, eyeing a complete transition to renewable sources for its outstanding 70 percent of municipal energy consumption.
"By investing in renewable energy infrastructure like Adams Solar, and promoting clean energy adoption, the municipality strives to lead by example as Philadelphia works towards its broader citywide decarbonization goals," said Elizabeth Lankenau, Interim Director of the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability. Adding weight to Lankenau's sentiment, Emily Schapira, CEO of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, underscored the additional benefits of the solar project: "This project supports Philadelphia’s climate goals, created jobs and economic development, and provided training opportunities in solar for Philadelphians," she told the City's website. Schapira highlighted the multifaceted advantages, saying "It provides long-term budget certainty and saves the city money. We could not be prouder to finally flip the switch on this project to provide clean power to Philadelphia."
