Originally published in the Daily Local News

By MediaNews Group 

Local lawmakers and municipal leaders found out what it will take to transition to 100 percent renewable energy at PennEnvironment and Sierra Club’s Chester County Ready for 100 program in West Whiteland.

More than 150 Chester County residents explored clean energy and energy efficiency at the expo Saturday, and learned how they can transition their homes to cleaner resources to help reduce carbon footprint.

“I am very pleased to see the current focus on our environment and climate change,” said state Rep. Christina Sappey. “We have a responsibility to next generations to take immediate action to protect and preserve what we’ve done right, correct what we haven’t and implement strategies that get us to 100 percent renewable energy. It’s for these reasons I am honored to do whatever I can to work with our environmental advocacy partners towards this goal.”

The event also featured a panel discussion, “Our Clean Energy Future,” which engaged attendees in a discussion about how to push our communities and the state of Pennsylvania to transition away from dirty fossil fuels. The panel featured local elected officials and energy experts who showcased the existing momentum there is to transition away from dirty fossil fuels and how our community can help.

“Climate change is real,” said Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan. “It is happening, and we do cause it. It is something that as a country we, and frankly, a world, we need to deal with as quickly, as rapidly, and as aggressively as we possibly can.”

Houlahan is a cosponsor of The Climate Solutions Act which calls for 100 percent Renewable Energy by 2035 and sets greenhouse gas emission targets to 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050.

The panelists, moderated by PennEnvironment’s Chester County Organizer, Jess Cadorette, engaged attendees in a discussion about the existing renewable energy projects and legislation at the local and state levels. In addition to Sappey and Rep. Danielle Friel Otten, the panel West Chester Borough’s Mayor Dianne Herrin, South Eastern Pennsylvania Sierra Club Chair Jim Wylie, and Practical Energy Solutions President Paul Spiegel.

“As climate change threatens our children’s futures, pipelines and other oil and gas infrastructure threaten the safety of our communities, the values of the homes we’ve worked hard for and destroy our natural resources, the time is now,” Otten said. “The transition to 100 percent Renewable Energy is not just a political mandate, it is a moral imperative.”

Wylie spoke on the momentum that’s growing throughout Chester County for the transition to clean energy. Seven townships in the county have passed resolutions committing to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. Seven more are currently considering the resolution.

“Southeastern Pennsylvania is leading the country in municipal commitments to 100 percent renewable energy,” Wylie said. “Community leaders and elected officials are working together to see that these commitments become reality.”

Herrin said West Chester has already is committed to 100 percent Renewable Energy by 2050.

Paul Spiegel, the president of Practical Energy Solutions told the group how the private sector is promoting clean energy and can continue to help municipalities and citizens achieve the desire for energy that doesn’t harm our climate.

The expo featured 15 local clean energy and energy efficiency businesses who exhibited their services and joined in the discussion. PECO and Swing Green educated attendees about how they can monitor their energy usage and reduce their consumption. Local solar installers educated homeowners about easy and affordable ways to power their home or business with solar panels.