Lori Brennan, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in Pennsylvania, released today the following statement on Governor Shapiro’s announcement outlining the Pennsylvania Lightning Plan:
“We are encouraged by Governor Shapiro’s Lightning Plan proposal, which outlines a pathway for Pennsylvania to accelerate clean energy deployment and pursue decarbonization strategies to reduce emissions while providing for the energy needs of the Commonwealth and beyond.
“PACER, PRESS, Community Energy and the Reliable Energy Siting and Electric Transition (RESET) Board all form major components of the Lightning Plan. Taken together, they represent a once-in-a-generation framework to maximize energy outcomes that balance climate, communities and conservation. This balance is critical, as Pennsylvania is the largest producer and exporter of electricity in the U.S. as well as home to critical corridors within the Appalachian Range, one of most biodiverse landscapes in the world.
“From The Nature Conservancy’s experience working across all 50 states, we know that streamlined energy infrastructure siting processes like the RESET Board component outlined in the Lightning Plan are among the best pathways to accelerate clean energy deployment while ensuring positive outcomes for conservation.