PHILADELPHIA- Mayor Kenney, joined by officials from the City and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, today unveiled the Philadelphia Municipal Energy Master Plan for the Built Environment, and announced new programs to reduce energy use and clean the City’s energy supply.
The report provides a roadmap of how Philadelphia’s government will work toward reducing the causes of climate change in its facilities by reducing energy use and costs, making operations more efficient, investing in renewable energy and advancing environmental stewardship. This focus is in line with commitments Mayor Kenney has made to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Accord and to transition towards 100% renewable energy.
“If we are to ask residents and the business community to do their part in fighting climate change, the City must lead by example,” said the Mayor. “That’s why we are starting with this – a comprehensive blueprint to better manage our own assets to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in line with our commitments.”
The plan sets four new goals to help meet the City’s Greenworks energy and climate visions:
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the City’s built environment 50 percent by 2030
- Reduce the City’s built environment energy use 20 percent by 2030
- Generate or purchase 100 percent of all electricity for the City’s built environment from renewable resources by 2030
- Maintain or reduce the City’s built environment cost of energy at facilities
One strategy is to reduce the City’s energy use. As an example of that approach, the Mayor and Art Museum officials announced a major energy efficiency retrofit of the museum. As the largest energy consumer of the City’s 600 buildings, the museum represents a unique opportunity to save energy, and invest in infrastructure, while also improving comfort and the visitor experience. Energy conservation measures- such as lighting upgrades and building controls- will be included in the Museum’s nearly $200 million core project.
“This is an excellent example of the enduring 89-year partnership between the City and the Museum,” said Gail Harrity, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. “Under its four-acre roof, the Museum provides care for one of the nation’s largest and most treasured collections of art, and it’s no surprise that the Museum is also one of the city’s most significant users of energy. Today is an exciting moment to show how the Museum and the City are working together to reduce consumption at our iconic, City-owned building. The timing could not be more perfect. Our Facilities Master Plan, also undertaken in partnership with the City, is well underway, so as we renew this aging facility, we are also ensuring that lowered energy consumption is built into the heart of the plan.”
This project will continue the Mayor’s commitments to increasing diversity in construction by ensuring the project work is completed with a diverse workforce and subcontracted to disadvantaged businesses. The savings from the energy improvements will cover the cost of the project, which is expected to cost over $9 million.
A second strategy is to clean the City’s energy supply by transitioning to renewable energy. To that end, City and the Philadelphia Energy Authority will release an RFP for a renewable energy power purchase agreement. Through this process, the City will look to make a long-term commitment to purchase renewable energy from a large utility scale wind, solar or other renewable energy project in the region, the first time the City has tried to make this type of commitment.
“I am proud to represent a city that leads on our nation’s most pressing issues,” Council President Darrell L. Clarke said. “The unprecedented partnership between the Philadelphia Energy Authority, city government, and the Museum of Art is an important expression of our commitment to stopping climate change that will also create jobs. I hope today’s announcement inspires more institutions across our city to work with us to ensure a green and prosperous future for Philadelphia.”
The Municipal Energy Master Plan supports the Philadelphia Energy Campaign, released by the Philadelphia Energy Authority and Council President Clarke last year.
“Our ultimate goal is to reduce our carbon footprint, energy consumption, and advance Philadelphia’s reputation as one of the greenest cities in America. It is necessary that we lead the transition to a clean energy economy and empower citizens to build sustainable communities. We applaud Mayor Kenney and the Office of Sustainability for their tireless advocacy to ensure a more sustainable Philadelphia outlined in the Municipal Energy Master Plan” said Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, Chair of City Council’s Committee on the Environment.
The Municipal Energy Master Plan is available here. As projects and programs are implemented, the Office of Sustainability is committed to regularly updating the public on progress and next steps. Additionally, later this year, the City will release a broader citywide energy vision focused on energy strategies and goals for the entire city of Philadelphia.