Bucks Commissioners Unveil First Steps in Clean Energy Plan

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Bucks County officials have outlined their plan to have county government running on 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035.

“This is an ambitious goal,” said Commissioner Bob Harvie during the commissioners' Wednesday meeting. “This action plan is not meant to be the end. This is really seen as the beginning step.”

The recommendations from the county's Ready for 100 Committee include more than a dozen steps intended to have all county facilities running solely on renewable electricity within the next 14 years. Earlier this year, the county commissioners approved a resolution based on the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 plan.“

Climate change is for real. It’s not a partisan issue,” said Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo, the only Republican commissioner.

The committee’s first set of recommendations takes aim at energy use in county buildings, and suggests altering thermostat settings by one degree, prioritizing energy efficient vehicles and equipment, and taking inventory of “extra” appliances, such as mini-fridges, fans and microwaves.

“Part of it is something as simple as educating the workforce here at the county about when to have things plugged in and when to not have things plugged in,” said Harvie. “How many people turn their (computer) monitors off over the weekend?”

In March 2020, Doylestown Township became the first municipality in Bucks County to commit to RF100’s goals. Solebury, Buckingham and West Rockhill also have signed the RF100 resolution.

The resolution also has been adopted in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

The Bucks RF100 group will continue to meet in the coming months to develop and implement plans to improve energy efficiency.

Climate change is “an important issue for our children and our grandchildren,” said DiGirolamo. “We just want to make sure there’s a financial benefit for the county.”

At Wednesday’s commissioners’ meeting, Kevin Wright, co-founder and president of ProtoGen Energy Aligned gave a presentation based on an analysis of solar power options for the county.

The Quakertown company, which conducted the analysis at no cost to the county, suggests adding solar panels to county-owned properties, such as free libraries and correctional centers.

“We looked at this on purely an economic basis,” said Wright. “There’s a cost to burning fossil fuels. The county pays an electric bill every month, so by having (solar) it really changes the dynamic of the way the county spends money.”

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