The PennFuture Energy Playbook: Building Our Energy Future

August 19, 2026, Harrisburg, P.A. — Today, PennFuture released The PennFuture Energy Playbook: Building Our Energy Future. This guide is meant for state leaders and outlines steps for real energy progress, starting with investments in electricity infrastructure. The Playbook shares important policy ideas to accelerate renewable energy adoption, such as passing laws to support community solar projects and developing solar and battery storage on abandoned mine land.
​
“Right now, many people have to choose between paying their electricity bill and buying groceries. This Playbook is a reminder that the technology needed to address the overlapping energy and affordability crises exists. Harrisburg just needs to create the policies and financial incentives for us to compete and lead,” said Donna Kohut, the Playbook’s author and Policy Manager for Sustainable Economics. “Pennsylvania doesn't have an energy problem. We have a political will problem.”
​
The PennFuture Energy Playbook offers policy suggestions for state lawmakers, including:

1. Update the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard by passing legislation requiring 35% of electricity to be generated by renewable energy sources.
2. Pass Community Solar enabling legislation.
3. Incentivize solar development on previously impacted, commercial, or industrial properties, prioritizing the rooftops of warehouses, fulfillment centers, and large government buildings.
4. Promote sustainable economic development by leveraging environmental standards attached to financial resources.

This playbook was created to address the lack of progress on economic and environmental policy in Harrisburg. While Pennsylvania’s leaders continue to attract energy-hungry industries and promote fracked gas to power them, PennFuture offers an alternative vision. Through strong leadership, creative vision, and smart policies, Pennsylvania can build a modern energy economy powered by clean energy, energy efficiency, and industrial decarbonization. The Playbook lays out how we can steer forgotten industrial communities away from decline and towards prosperity, localizing clean energy generation, encouraging new investment in coal communities, and making the Commonwealth’s industrial base more competitive. Kohut offers a quick reference to the Playbook with her blog, Top 5 Actions in PennFuture’s Energy Playbook: Building Our Energy Future.

PennFuture will host a free webinar on implementing the Playbook, led by Donna Kohut, on September 10, 2026, at 6:00 pm. Registration for the webinar is available on pennfuture.org or at this link.