Delaware County Receives Certificate of Environmental Stewardship from WGL Energy

Released: March 27, 2023

Delaware County Council and the Delaware County Office of Sustainability have announced that the County has been awarded a Certificate of Environmental Stewardship from WGL Energy for the County’s recent purchase of significant renewable energy credits.

The Certificate is in recognition that the County, as part of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Energy Partnership Agreement (SEPA) has purchased the highest level of renewable energy credits possible through 100% offsite wind renewable energy credits. SEPA, an inter-county sustainability group that includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties and spearheaded by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, leverages purchasing power as a group to procure renewable energy at the greatest value.

In total, WGL Energy is providing 25,731,000 kilowatt hours of 100% green energy certified wind power to Delaware County. This amount of renewable energy eliminates the emissions of 18,325 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is equivalent to taking 3,929 cars off Delaware County roadways for one year and eliminates the consumption of 2,051,886 gallons of gasoline.

“Adopting sustainable practices really begins with energy,” explained Delaware County Council Vice Chair Elaine Paul Schaefer. “This certificate demonstrates that the County, led by our Office of Sustainability and Francine Locke, is on the right path towards a sustainable future.”

As the regional energy grid builds its capacity for more local renewable energy sources, Delaware County and its partnering counties will continue to look to procure energy directly from local and regional sources of solar, wind and hydro energy producing facilities. This aligns with Delaware County’s sustainability goals increasing renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The purchase of renewable energy figures to be key component of the County’s first ever Sustainability Plan, currently being drafted by the Office of Sustainability in consultation with community advocates, partners, and experts from Delaware County and the surrounding region.

To ensure community input and feedback about the goals, targets, and actions input on the plan, Sustainability is holding four public Sustainability Plan Open Houses—three in-person and one virtual. All Open Houses are being hosted in walkable and transit-accessible communities. The first Open House will be held on Wed., March 29, from 6 - 8 p.m., at the Upper Darby One Center at 100 Garrett Road in Upper Darby, with additional open houses scheduled for the following week in Chester and in Media.

Information about all four Sustainability Plan open houses can be found on the Office of Sustainability's website at delcopa.gov/sustainabilityplan.