Philadelphia, PA - The Office of Sustainability today announced the publication of Powering Our Future: A Clean Energy Vision for Philadelphia. The report lays out short- and long-term goals for meeting the City’s commitments to fighting climate change and potential strategies for achieving those goals. This publication follows a draft released last November for public comment. The report's final version incorporates feedback from residents, advocates, and issue experts.
Powering Our Future highlights current and expected trends in our energy system. It identifies opportunities for the City, other government agencies, residents, and businesses to each lead in achieving our climate and energy goals. OOS focused on three primary goals in creating this report:
- Set new targets for carbon pollution reduction while considering critical factors, including equity, health, and the economic benefits of a clean energy transition.
- Educate Philadelphians about how our energy system works and how to work together to achieve a clean energy transition.
- Model the impact of new programs and policies to transform our energy system across five focus areas: Clean Electricity Supply, Citywide Solar, Energy-Efficient Homes and Businesses, Low-Carbon Thermal Energy, and Low-Carbon Economy.
The report's final version provides additional context on energy in Philadelphia, describes further action needed to meet and exceed the City’s 80 percent by 2050 carbon reduction goal, and includes updates that reflect changes to policy locally and nationally over the past year.
The Office of Sustainability will follow the release of Powering Our Future with a Clean Energy Vision Action Plan in September. The Action Plan will outline how the City can further its commitment to fighting climate change by strengthening existing programs and launching new efforts to cut carbon pollution and protect residents from its impacts.
