Climate Fast Facts: Pennsylvania

Clean Businesses (2007)	Clean Jobs (2007)	Clean Job Growth (1998-2007)	Overall Job Growth (1998-2007)	Jobs Lost (2008-2009)

2,934	38,763	-6.2%	-3.1%	176,200

Climate & Energy Resources

Latest Climate Science (Union of Concerned Scientists)
Global Warming and Pennsylvania (National Wildlife Federation)
Cost of Delay (Environmental Defense Fund)
Meeting the International Clean Energy and Climate Change Challenges (The White House)

Jobs

While the state’s coal resources figure prominantly in the state's energy debate, Pennsylvania has the capacity to be one of the centers of clean energy in the United States. The steel industry alone can save $97 million just by enacting low-hanging efficiency measures. A $150 billion clean energy investment across the country would bring 72,000 jobs and about $6.1 billion investment to the state, reducing unemployment by 1.1 percent.

Clean-Energy Investments Create Jobs in Pennsylvania (Center for American Progress/PERI)
Jobs that Build a Better Future: Jim Bauer, Windmill Builder, Levittown, PA (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Pennsylvania: Green Prosperity and Poverty Reduction (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Green Prosperity and Poverty Reduction: Philadelphia, PA (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Green Prosperity and Poverty Reduction: Pittsburgh, PA (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Clean Energy Jobs in Pennsylvania (Environmental Defense Fund)
Clean Energy and Climate Policies Lead to Economic Growth in Pennsylvania (Environmental Entrepreneurs)

Opportunity

The Pennsylvania economy will thrive if the prioritizes renewable energy sources. Committing to a 30 percent growth in solar in the United States would bring 1,752 jobs and $1.4 billion investment to the state. Pennsylvania could see 7,622 jobs manufacturing wind turbines and $2.54 billion investment in the wind industry alone if 50,000 MW of new wind energy is created at the national level.

ACES Funding for Efficiency Investments-PA (Environment Northeast)

Charting a New Path for Pennsylvania’s Electricity Generation and Use (National Wildlife Federation)
The Clean Energy Economy: Pennsylvania (Pew Environment Group)
Allentown to Boomtown: Pennsylvania's Clean Energy Revitalization (Apollo Alliance)
Renewable Energy Works: Pennsylvania

Cut Costs

The average family in Pennsylvania would save $6.69 per month on their energy bills and $11.86 per month on vehicle fuel costs if the American Clean Energy and Security Act was enacted.

Climate Bill Cuts Electricity Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Climate-Protection Policies Cut Fuel Bills (Natural Resources Defense Council)
Summary of Competitiveness Provisions in ACES (Center for Clean Air Policy)
Analysis of Allowances to States, Energy Consumers Under HR 2454 (World Resources Institute)
Carbon Cap Critics Predict Healthy Economy under Cap-and-Trade (PERI/UMASS
Clean Energy, Green Jobs: A National Renewable Electricity Standard Will Boost the Economy and Protect the Environment (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Climate Consequences

If global warming continues as forecasted likely consequences for Pennsylvania include: degraded air quality, intense heat waves, wildfires, droughts, and extreme rainfall and flooding, tropical storms, and rising sea levels, and early snow melt. The winter sports industries will take a hit, and many prized hardwood tree species may cease to grow in the warmer climate.

Human Health Impacts of Global Warming on Pennsylvania (Pew Center)
Climate Change in Pennsylvania: Impacts and Solutions for the Keystone State (Union of Concerned Scientists)

Global Climate Change Impacts on the U.S.: Northeast Assessment (Union of Concerned Scientists)
A Preliminary Analysis of the Effects of HR 2454 on U.S. Agriculture (USDA)

Climate Change in the United States: The Prohibitive Costs of Inaction (Union of Concerned Scientists)

State Actions

While Congress debates climate and energy legislation on the Hill, Pennsylvania has plans underway to create a climate action plan, and is currently observing the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The state also has set renewable energy portfolio standard, public benefit funds for renewables and energy efficiency, energy efficient resources standards, and has instituted financing incentives promoting biofuels.