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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Saving Energy

    Comprehensive Energy Data and Maps

    As the state's energy office, we receive numerous requests for energy data. We hope the compilation of links below will help you learn more.

     There is information about fuel types, power generation, pricing, security, distribution, usage, renewables, efficiency programs and types, etc.

    Diagrams Projecting from Tablet
    PA Energy Map
    In 2018, the Department hired a contractor to compile an Energy Assessment Report for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (PDF).

    Additional Energy Data

    Love to crunch numbers? If you’re like the typical Pennsylvania family, you spend approximately $1,875 a year on your home's electricity bills and consume more than 10,000 kWh per year.

    Energy Information Administration: The U.S. Department of Energy's EIA provides a wide range of information and data products covering energy production, stocks, demand, imports, exports, and prices; and prepares analyses and special reports on topics of current interest.

    The EIA's Pennsylvania State Profile and Energy Estimates provides an overview, data, analysis, rankings, comparisons and other information on energy production, consumption, sales and resources in PA.

    U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed the State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE) platform, a website capable of analyzing and sorting data in real-time to quickly assess regional energy system, demand, and resources. The DOE also manages a maps page with links to a variety of energy data information, and an energy data management and evaluation page to assist in developing energy efficiency improvement or data management programs.

    National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) is the national non-profit association for governor-designated energy officials from each of the 56 states and territories. NASEO facilitates peer learning among state energy officials, serves as a resource for and about state energy offices, and advocates the interests of the state energy offices to Congress and federal agencies. NASEO also provides links and information on each of the State and Territory Energy Offices and their respective State Energy Plans.

    Energy Efficiency

    The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. They maintain a State and Local Policy Database and produce an annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard.

    The Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and energy security. They generate fact sheets about energy legislation and reports on energy savings in schools.

    The Saturn Resource Management is a credible consulting company that offers books on subjects such as energy auditing and energy efficiency in your home, online training and certification courses, curriculum, and free information on reducing your energy consumption. See their blogs on "Sliding Glass Doors: Comfort and Energy," "Attic Vents and Venting," and "Metal Chimney Liners and Other Solutions."

    Weatherization assistance provides home energy efficiency assistance for lower-income homeowners through your county.

    Energy-efficient mortgages may be an option for you when buying a home.

    More sources for energy efficiency: Energy Information Administration, National Association of State Energy Officials, and EERE.

    Renewables

    DSIRE (the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency) is a comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States.

    Renewable Energy Cost Database (link no longer available)
    This Environmental Protection Agency database is a compilation of existing cost data for wind, solar photovoltaic (solar PV), solar thermal (CSP), and geothermal energy technologies, including historical costs and projected costs for each.

    GATS (the Generation Attribute Tracking System) is a trading platform designed to meet the needs of buyers and sellers involved in the renewable energy certificate market - from homeowners and aggregators to states and other market participants. PJM-EIS (the administrator of GATS) also provides various data, reports and news information about the market and industry including a database of all Renewable Generators Registered in GATS.

    Solar

    The PA PUC Renewables website has facts about solar including the basics and benefits of solar, financing of solar, what's involved with installing solar, and who to contact for help.

    SEIA (the Solar Energy Industries Association) is a U.S. national trade association that represents organizations that promote, manufacture, install, and support the development of solar energy. SEIA also maintains a National Solar Database (link no longer available) and a wide range of Solar Industry Data.

    The Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association (MSEIA) accomplishes its mission by researching, designing and advocating for policies to grow solar energy.

    NREL Solar Data-The Open PV Project
    This National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) link provides real-time status of the Solar Photovoltaic market in the United States.

    Tracking the Sun IV Report (LBNL)
    This LBNL report released in July 2013 provides historical summary of the installed cost of grid-connected Photovoltaic systems in the U.S., from 1998 to 2012, with preliminary data for 2013, and includes installed cost trends for utility-sector PV for the first time. The report tracks the installed cost of these systems over time and by location, customer type, system characteristics, and components. 2024 Tracking the Sun Report

    Other good solar energy websites:

    Solar Education and Resource Center provides education and training.

    Solar Energy International (SEI) offers hands-on workshops and online courses in solar PV, micro-hydro and solar hot water.

    The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) offers entry level knowledge assessment, professional certification, and company accreditation programs to renewable energy professionals throughout North America: NABCEP.

    Bioenergy

    AgStar is a U.S. EPA program that promotes the use of biogas recovery systems to reduce methane emissions from livestock waste. In addition to providing information on these systems, their website has a Livestock Anaerobic Digester Database which provides basic information on anaerobic digesters at livestock farms in the United States.

    Other good bioenergy websites:

    Pennsylvania Biomass Energy Association
    Penn State Cooperative Extension Biomass Energy Center
    Pennsylvania Fuels for Schools and Communities
    NEWBio (Northeast Woody/Warm Season Biomass Consortium)
    Sustainable Forestry Initiative of PA
    PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
    Biomass Energy Resource Center
    Pennsylvania Primary Wood Processors Directory
    Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture-Hardwoods Development Council

    Wind

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the American Wind Energy Association, released a comprehensive dataset of U.S. wind turbine locations and characteristics that is easily accessible, more accurate, and updated more often than existing wind turbine datasets and can be viewed in the United States Wind Turbine Database Viewer.

    The American Clean Power, an advocacy group that promotes wind energy, can provide you with more detailed information about how it works, how it gets to you, and the benefits of wind.

    If you are interested in learning whether wind is practical for you, the size of wind turbine you need, wind systems costs, and other information regarding small wind, check out the Pennsylvania Consumer's Guide to Small Wind Electric Systems (PDF).

    Some communities or groups of landowners may be interested in developing their own Community Wind Project.

    For more information about wind the U.S. Department of Energy is a useful source.

    Geothermal

    The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) and U.S. Department of Energy are two great resources to learn more about this technology.

    Production and Pricing

    PJM (the Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland Interconnection) is a regional transmission organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. In addition to offering a multitude of real-time and historical data on the electricity market, a streamlined data search page is also available to filter information found on the PJM website.

    Alternative Fuels

    US DOE Alternative Fueling Station Locations allows you to search for biodiesel, compressed natural gas, electric, ethanol, hydrogen, liquefied natural gas, and liquified propane fueling stations throughout the US.

    EPA Carbon Footprint Calculator allows you to estimate your carbon footprint from home energy, transportation and waste usage patterns.

    Tools and Resources

    Electric Vehicles in Pennsylvania (PDF)
    Consumers in Pennsylvania now have many choices to make when purchasing a vehicle, including the option to purchase a vehicle that runs, in part, or in full, on electricity.

    Alternative Fuels Map
    Welcome to the map of electric vehicle (EV), compressed natural gas (CNG), liquified natural gas (LNG), and E85 (gasoline containing 85% ethanol) refueling stations within Pennsylvania. This map includes stations that were supported by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Commonwealth Finance Authority (CFA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and private funds.

    Alternative Fuel Refueling Sites
    Find refueling locations in Pennsylvania, that offer the following alternative fuel types: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquified Propane Gas (LPG), Electric, Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), Ethanol (E85) and Methanol (M85).

    Alternative Fuels Data Center
    A source of information on AFVs including lists of vehicles available from manufacturers, national refueling information, emission reduction demonstration studies.

    Fleet Buyer's Guide
    A web site designed to help you understand how to acquire AFV's.

    Fuel Economy Site
    The Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency have jointly developed a new web-site that allows consumers easy access to fuel economy data.

    The Department of Energy's Vehicle Cost Calculator
    Use this calculator to compare alternative fuel vehicles with their gasoline-only counterparts.

    Alternative Fuel Stations Locator

    Alternative Fuel Refueling Sites
    Find refueling locations in Pennsylvania that offer the following alternative fuel types: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Propane Gas (LPG), Electric, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Ethanol (E85) and Methanol (M85).

    Learn about public health impacts from fuel emissions.