The Pennsylvania Energy Horizons Cross-Sector Collaborativewas formally launched in July 2022. This statewide public-private network — currently including more than 150 stakeholders — brings together leaders from industry, labor, government, nonprofits, and academia to unleash innovative, technological, and market-driven solutions to reduce emissions economy-wide while expanding the commonwealth's clean energy economy.
The Collaborative Is:
- Public-Private:Driven by private sector leaders and champions from state government who share a commitment to realizing Pennsylvania's potential for both economic and environmental benefits from decarbonization. Nonprofit, academic, labor, and regional organizations also play important roles in driving the Collaborative's action agenda.
- A Catalyst & Enabler: The Collaborative drives action around decarbonization, creating the conditions for infrastructure investments to be made in Pennsylvania through compelling messaging as well as policy and regulatory frameworks.
- A Driver of Sustained Commitment: The Collaborative is designed to mobilize and sustain the long-term, public-private commitment needed to realize the economic and environmental opportunities of decarbonization in the Commonwealth.
CCUS and Hydrogen Focus
Currently, the Collaborative's work is focused on two strategies that promote decarbonization: carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and hydrogen. As the United States and the world aggressively pursue decarbonization strategies, competition in the CCUS and hydrogen sectors is increasing rapidly. Together, investing in these technologies and necessary infrastructure will be critical for achieving a lower-carbon future and meeting the goals laid out in former Governor Tom Wolf's Executive Order 2019-1, which calls for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050.
The Collaborative has been meeting regularly since mid-2021 to examine and take the necessary steps to position Pennsylvania as a leader in developing the CCUS and hydrogen industries.
- In September 2022, the Collaborative released a road map that outlines the path for Pennsylvania for the deployment of hydrogen and carbon capture infrastructure in the commonwealth to meet its climate goals and capitalize on a competitive edge in energy production and industrial manufacturing.
- The Collaborative is currently identifying key policy considerations in developing the regulatory framework and policy incentives needed to create conditions for CCUS and hydrogen infrastructure investment in Pennsylvania.
Previous Work: Energy Scenario Planning
Pennsylvania first began planning for a changing energy system in 2017. In an earlier iteration of this work, a group of Pennsylvanians representing a wide-ranging set of backgrounds and expertise convened to debate, and ultimately attempt to answer, the question of how Pennsylvania's energy system might evolve in 25 years and what the implications might be for Pennsylvanians. This work used a world-renowned energy scenarios methodology. The project produced two different scenarios — Rivers and Roots — which highlighted a range of drivers and uncertainties that take Pennsylvania's energy future along divergent paths.
The work products and areas of focus are the result of collaboration, and while they reflect the broadest possible set of views they do not imply a full endorsement by every participant of the Pennsylvania Energy Horizons Cross-Sector Collaborative.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Cross-Sector Collaborative is a statewide public-private network that was formally launched in July 2022. It includes more than 150 stakeholders from industry, labor, government, nonprofits, and academia working together on decarbonization strategies.
The Collaborative focuses on unleashing innovative, technological, and market-driven solutions to reduce carbon emissions economy-wide while expanding the Commonwealth's clean energy economy.
It serves as a catalyst and enabler, driving action around decarbonization by creating the conditions for infrastructure investments through compelling messaging, policy frameworks, and regulatory recommendations.
Currently, the Collaborative's work is focused on two primary strategies: carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and hydrogen development. Both technologies are critical for achieving a lower-carbon future.
CCUS involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources and either storing them underground or repurposing them for commercial applications. Hydrogen can serve as a clean energy carrier for transportation, industry, and power generation.
The Collaborative has released a road map outlining the deployment path for both CCUS and hydrogen infrastructure across Pennsylvania.
The Collaborative brings together a diverse group of more than 150 stakeholders including private sector leaders, state government champions, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, labor unions, and regional development agencies.
Private sector leaders and government officials who share a commitment to realizing Pennsylvania's potential for economic and environmental benefits from decarbonization drive the initiative forward.
The broad-based participation ensures that the Collaborative's work products reflect the widest possible set of perspectives and priorities.
In September 2022, the Collaborative released a comprehensive road map outlining the path for Pennsylvania to deploy hydrogen and carbon capture infrastructure to meet its climate goals and capitalize on its competitive edge in energy production.
The Collaborative has been meeting regularly since mid-2021 to examine key steps needed to position Pennsylvania as a leader in CCUS and hydrogen industries.
It is currently identifying key policy considerations for developing the regulatory framework and policy incentives needed to create conditions for infrastructure investment in the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania first began planning for a changing energy system in 2017. A group of Pennsylvanians with diverse backgrounds and expertise convened to explore how the state's energy system might evolve over 25 years.
This earlier work used a world-renowned energy scenarios methodology facilitated by Royal Dutch Shell's Global Scenarios Team. It produced two different scenarios called Rivers and Roots, which highlighted divergent paths for Pennsylvania's energy future.
The scenario planning project laid the groundwork for the current Collaborative by establishing the need for cross-sector dialogue and long-term strategic planning around energy policy.