Report on Pennsylvania’s Energy Sector and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Executive Summary

This report analyzes the state of Pennsylvania’s energy sector, focusing on its deviation from renewable energy leadership and the subsequent challenges in aligning with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The state’s increasing reliance on natural gas has created significant barriers to achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Despite early progress, political and infrastructural gridlock has resulted in Pennsylvania lagging nationally in renewable energy growth, leading to rising electricity costs for consumers and locking the state into a fossil fuel-dependent future.

Challenges to Achieving SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

Shift from Renewable Leadership to Fossil Fuel Dependency

Pennsylvania’s energy trajectory illustrates a significant policy reversal, moving from a pioneer in renewable energy to a state heavily dependent on natural gas. This shift directly undermines the objectives of SDG 7.

• In the early 2000s, Pennsylvania established the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS), positioning itself as a national leader in alternative energy.
• The subsequent hydraulic fracturing (fracking) boom, beginning in 2004, shifted the state’s focus to natural gas, promoted as a “transition fuel.”
• This “transition” has become entrenched, with continued investment in gas infrastructure, delaying a substantive shift to cleaner energy sources as mandated by SDG 7.

Current Energy Mix and National Performance

The state’s current energy profile reflects a profound misalignment with national trends toward clean energy adoption.

1. Natural gas now accounts for 60% of Pennsylvania’s electricity generation.
2. Renewable energy sources contribute only 4% to the state’s electricity, an increase of just one percentage point since 2015.
3. This slow progress places Pennsylvania 49th in the U.S. for renewable energy growth and 41st for utility-scale solar generation.

Economic Impact on Energy Affordability

The over-reliance on a single fuel source has exposed consumers to price volatility, compromising the “affordable” aspect of SDG 7.

• Dependence on natural gas links local electricity bills to volatile global gas prices, contributing to soaring costs for households.
• In contrast, Texas, another major gas producer, has grown its renewable energy share to 34% and maintains residential electricity rates approximately 20% lower than Pennsylvania’s.
• Individual adoption of residential solar has proven to be an effective defense against rising bills, with payback periods shortening as conventional electricity prices increase.

Policy and Institutional Barriers to Sustainable Development (SDG 16 & SDG 13)

Political Gridlock and Industry Influence

Progress on climate action (SDG 13) and the development of strong, effective institutions (SDG 16) is hindered by political polarization and the influence of the fossil fuel industry.

• A significant partisan divide in the state legislature prevents consensus on energy policy, with strong opposition to measures that challenge the dominance of natural gas.
• The natural gas industry exerts considerable influence through lobbying and campaign contributions, creating a political environment resistant to renewable energy expansion.
• Public support for renewable energy, particularly solar, is high among Pennsylvanians but is not reflected in state-level policy decisions.

Legislative Stalemate on Renewable Energy Initiatives

Key legislative efforts aimed at promoting clean energy and climate action have been consistently blocked.

1. Efforts to update the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard have stalled.
2. Legislation to legalize community solar, which would broaden access to clean energy in line with SDG 7 and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), has passed the House but is stuck in the Senate.
3. Contested membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) further exemplifies the deep-seated political resistance to climate-focused policies.

Infrastructure and Innovation Challenges (SDG 9)

Grid Management and Interconnection Delays

The development of sustainable infrastructure (SDG 9) is severely hampered by bottlenecks in the regional electricity grid management system.

• PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator, faces a massive backlog of projects seeking to connect to the grid, 98% of which are renewable energy projects.
• These delays in interconnection prevent cheaper, cleaner energy from coming online, artificially supporting the dominance of existing fossil fuel generation and costing consumers billions.
• PJM has cited external factors for the slowdown, but critics argue the outmoded interconnection process blocks new competition and inflates energy prices.

Future Demand and Investment in Non-Renewable Infrastructure

Projected increases in electricity demand are being positioned as a justification for further investment in fossil fuel infrastructure, contrary to the principles of sustainable innovation.

• The anticipated growth of data centers and artificial intelligence technology is expected to drive a surge in electricity demand.
• In response, major investments are being directed toward building new natural gas power plants, further entrenching fossil fuel dependency for decades.
• This path ignores the rising costs associated with drilling for gas and constructing gas-fired power plants, while also overlooking the significant climate impact of methane emissions from the natural gas life cycle, a direct contradiction of SDG 13.

Pathways Forward: Aligning with SDGs 7, 11, and 13

The Role of Distributed Generation and Community Action

Despite systemic barriers, individual and community-level actions offer a viable path toward achieving sustainable energy goals.

• Residential solar installations are increasing, allowing homeowners to bypass the PJM queue, reduce their carbon footprint, and achieve energy cost stability, contributing to SDG 7 and SDG 11.
• These small-scale systems can be deployed quickly and serve as a model for decentralized, resilient energy infrastructure.

Conclusion: The Need for Renewed Political Will

Pennsylvania stands at a critical juncture. The state possesses the historical precedent and public support to become a leader in the clean energy transition. Overcoming the current political and infrastructural inertia requires decisive political will to update energy policies, streamline the grid connection process for renewables, and prioritize long-term investments in sustainable infrastructure. A renewed commitment to these principles is essential for the state to align with its sustainable development potential and ensure an affordable, clean, and secure energy future for all its citizens.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses several issues in Pennsylvania, including rising electricity prices, the state’s heavy reliance on natural gas, the slow adoption of renewable energy, and the political and infrastructural barriers to a clean energy transition. These issues are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: This is the most central SDG. The article focuses on the affordability of electricity (“soaring electric bills”) and the struggle to transition to cleaner energy sources like solar and wind, away from fossil fuels like natural gas.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article addresses climate change by discussing the role of natural gas as a “transition fuel,” its carbon pollution, and the high global warming potential of methane, a component of natural gas. The debate over energy policy is framed within the larger context of environmental and climate concerns.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure: The discussion revolves around energy infrastructure, including the electricity grid managed by PJM Interconnection, the backlog of renewable projects waiting for connection, and the need to build new power plants (gas or renewable) to meet rising demand from data centers.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article highlights solutions within urban settings, such as the residential solar panel installation on a “typical Philadelphia rowhouse.” It also mentions community solar, which would allow more urban and suburban residents to access clean energy.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article extensively details the failure of political institutions to advance renewable energy policy. It points to “political gridlock,” the influence of lobbying from the gas industry (“ownership of politicians”), a lack of transparency in grid management (PJM), and a disconnect between public will and legislative action.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.
   • The article directly addresses the affordability of energy, noting that “soaring electric bills” have “hit Pennsylvania households hard.” It contrasts Pennsylvania’s high residential electricity rates with those in Texas, which are “about 20 percent lower.”
2. Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • This target is a core theme. The article explicitly states that “Only 4 percent of Pennsylvania’s electricity comes from renewable energy” and that the state “ranks second to last in the country” in this regard. The slow progress is highlighted by the fact that this number has “only increased by one percentage point since 2015.”
3. Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology.
   • The article discusses significant barriers to investment in clean energy infrastructure. The grid operator, PJM, has a “backlog of unapproved electricity projects” where “something like 98 percent of them are renewables,” creating a “bottleneck” that blocks new, cheaper clean energy from coming online.
4. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • The article describes a failure to integrate climate measures into state policy. It points to political resistance to updating the “Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard,” legalizing “community solar,” and joining the “Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative” as examples of how efforts to make policy changes have been blocked, largely due to the influence of the natural gas industry.
5. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable…
   • The article discusses the need to upgrade the energy infrastructure to support renewables. The delays at PJM show how the current “outmoded, vastly delayed interconnection system” is preventing a sustainable transition. Furthermore, the plan to convert a former coal plant into the “country’s largest gas-fired power plant” to power data centers represents a move away from, rather than toward, sustainable infrastructure.
6. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • The article implies a lack of transparency and accountability in energy governance. It mentions protests against PJM and a bill introduced by State Rep. Chris Rabb “to increase transparency in PJM’s decision-making,” suggesting the institution currently operates without sufficient public oversight.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 7.2 (Renewable energy share): The article provides specific data points that serve as direct indicators.
  • The percentage of electricity generated by renewables in Pennsylvania is explicitly stated as “4 percent.”
  • The growth of this share is measured as a “one percentage point” increase since 2015.
  • Pennsylvania’s national ranking for renewable energy growth is given as “49th.”
• Indicator for Target 7.1 (Affordability): While not a formal UN indicator, the article uses a comparative metric for affordability.
  • Residential electricity rates are used as an indicator, with the article stating that rates in Texas are “about 20 percent lower than Pennsylvania’s.”
• Indicator for Targets 7.a and 9.4 (Infrastructure readiness): The backlog in the grid connection queue serves as a clear indicator of infrastructural barriers.
  • The article notes that “hundreds of projects in the queue” at PJM are waiting for approval, and “something like 98 percent of them are renewables.” This backlog is a measurable bottleneck.
• Indicator for Target 13.2 (Policy integration): The status of key legislation is an implied indicator of progress.
  • The article points to the failure to update the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard and the fact that the community solar bill is “stuck in the Senate” as negative indicators of policy integration.
• Indicator for Target 16.6 (Institutional transparency): The existence of legislative efforts to reform institutions implies a current deficit.
  • The introduction of a bill “to increase transparency in PJM’s decision-making” serves as an indicator that the institution is perceived as lacking transparency.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: insideclimatenews.org