How Pennsylvania Can Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets

This fact sheet by the World Resources Institute outlines how Pennsylvania can meet its Clean Power Plan (CPP) emission standards by expanding existing energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, optimizing the operation of natural gas and coal plants, and potentially adopting a market-based carbon pricing program.

• Pennsylvania can achieve further emission reductions by leveraging four specific actions: utilizing the Act 129 Phase III Program for energy efficiency, meeting the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard (AEPS) for Tier I renewable sources, increasing the capacity factor of combined cycle natural gas plants from 65 percent (2013 levels) to 75 percent, and implementing low-cost operational improvements at coal plants.
• To meet or exceed mass-based emission targets and reduce CO2 emissions by 46 percent below 2012 levels by 2030, Pennsylvania could increase its cumulative annual energy efficiency savings target to approximately 13.2 percent by 2030 and raise the Tier I alternative energy standard to 18 percent of state sales by 2030, while adjusting or removing spending caps on efficiency programs.
• The state could generate an average of over $160 million annually between 2022 and 2030 from out-of-state sources by adopting a market-based carbon pricing program, assuming a price of $10 per short ton for interstate emissions allowances and surpassing its CPP targets through the expansion of AEPS and Act 129.
• The document notes that energy efficiency is a highly cost-effective tool for the state, citing that utilities previously exceeded Phase I efficiency targets, resulting in a net $2.4 trillion in verified benefits.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). How Pennsylvania Can Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets. https://www.wri.org/research/how-pennsylvania-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets

Chicago

World Resources Institute. How Pennsylvania Can Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/how-pennsylvania-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=How Pennsylvania Can Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets |url=https://www.wri.org/research/how-pennsylvania-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendhow, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{How Pennsylvania Can Meet Its Clean Power Plan Targets}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/how-pennsylvania-can-meet-its-clean-power-plan-targets}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }