Installed at Gifford Pinchot State Park in York County, the project reinforces DCNR’s commitment to clean energy and cost-saving innovation, as well as the Commonwealth’s progress as a national leader in renewable energy.
Click Here for video/photos from the event.
“This project uses clean energy from the sun and provides shade for cars in the parking area, modeling a practical way we can take climate action and serve visitors,” DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn said. “For 30 years, DCNR has been managing Pennsylvania’s natural resources with sustainability at the forefront. With leadership from Governor Shapiro, we continue to focus on the stewardship that strengthens communities and enhances our quality of life.”
The 342-kW solar array at Gifford Pinchot State Park’s Quaker Race Day Use Area provides shade for ADA-accessible picnic areas and parking while generating clean energy.
This installation alone is expected to save Pennsylvania taxpayers more than $45,000 annually on electricity and reduce DCNR’s carbon footprint by over 163 metric tons per year—equivalent to removing 38 passenger cars from the road.
Paired with a 410-kW solar array near the park’s sewage treatment plant, the park now operates at net-zero energy, making it a model for sustainable operations on public lands.
The Quaker Race Day Use Area also includes a range of stormwater and ecological improvements, including--
-- A rainwater collection system and upgraded culverts
-- Native trees, grasses, and plants
-- Lakeside buffer zones and rain gardens
-- Regraded parking lots to better manage runoff
Together, the solar arrays and sustainable design features support Governor Josh Shapiro’s PA PULSE initiative, which aims to power 50 percent of state government operations with renewable energy by 2026.
“Governor Shapiro and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources continue to prioritize sustainability on our public lands, which is a win for Pennsylvanians,” said Pennsylvania Parks and Forests Foundation President Marci Mowery. “Making conscious investments of this type ensure our parks and forests will remain healthy, safe places to visit for present and future generations.”
DCNR has committed to sourcing 50 percent of its electric from renewable energy sources by 2030, largely through expanded solar infrastructure.
DCNR signed a new Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA) contract with McClure Company, a Harrisburg-based mechanical construction, engineering and energy service firm last fall.
The contract, part of the third phase of GESA improvements, targets energy efficiency upgrades and emissions reductions across 38 state parks and five forest districts.
The initiative is projected to cut emissions by 1,900 tons per year and save the Commonwealth more than $40 million in energy costs over the next two decades.
DCNR is working to incorporate sustainable designs and certified high-performance building standards into newly constructed and renovated buildings.
Other planned sustainability initiatives for DCNR properties include additional solar arrays, electric vehicle charging stations, reduction of internal combustion engine passenger vehicles within the agency’s fleet, and more.
Secretary Dunn reminded Pennsylvanians and visitors that Pennsylvania’s state parks and forests remain open for accessible and affordable outdoor recreation.
DCNR’s 30th Anniversary
In 2025, DCNR is celebrating its 30th anniversary of stewardship for the Commonwealth’s 124 state parks, 2.2 million acres of state forestland, and the work it does to make nature a better place for Pennsylvanians and visitors alike throughout its anniversary year.
To learn more about DCNR’s sustainability goals, view the Climate and Sustainability Initiative report or explore events across public lands at PA.gov/dcnr.
Click Here for DCNR’s announcement. Click Here for video/photos from the event.
Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.
Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.
For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website.
Related Articles This Week:
-- DCNR Marks Earth Day By Planting Over 400 Trees At Pottstown School District In Montgomery County [PaEN]
-- DCNR Grants: Partnership Expands Recreation Options In Northeast PA; 420 Applications For Conservation Partnership Grants Totaling $120 Million
-- DCNR State Parks Environmental Educator Newsletter Helps You Celebrate Earth Day! [PaEN]
-- DCNR Names Stacie Hall Park Operations Manager For Hickory Run State Park Complex In Carbon County
-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Announces River Sojourn Grants, Schedule [PaEN]
-- PA Recreation & Park Society: People, Parks & Community Foundation Now Accepting Applications For Grants To Improve Recreation, Community And Organizational Development [PaEN]
-- PA Parks & Forest Foundation Launches New Podcast-- It's Time To Think Outside! [PaEN]
-- Allegheny Land Trust, Game Commission Partner To Preserve 266 Acre Deer Creek Conservation Project In Indiana Twp., Allegheny County [PaEN]
-- Allegheny Land Trust, Cannon Design Release Plans For New Mobile Learning Lab [PaEN]
-- Brandywine Conservancy Launches New Website For Getting Started With Native Plants; Native Plant Sales In Delaware, Westmoreland Counties [PaEN]
-- North Branch Land Trust Hosts May 10 Event In Luzerne County On Exploring The Beauty And Importance Of Native Plants [PaEN]
-- PA Firefly Festival Receives Over 1,800 Entries To Campout Lottery; Private Guided Firefly Eco-Tours Available At Kellettville Firefly Farm In Forest County [PaEN]
-- Game Commission Announces Spraying Plan To Combat Spondy Moths On State Game Lands
NewsClips:
-- Warren Times Editorial: State Parks A Vital Resource
-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Pittsburgh Should Market Itself As One Of America’s Great Outdoors Cities, Because It Is
-- April 18 Take Five Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation
-- Inquirer - Frank Kummer: 560 Acre Wildfire In Carbon County Forces Closure Of Popular Trail
-- MCall: Large Brush Fire Near Jim Thorpe Continues As Crews Contain More Than 50%
-- WNEP: Crews Battle Blustery Winds In Bear Mountain Wildfire
-- PennLive: Nature Conservancy Acquires 509 Acres Of Land In Dauphin County, Transfers To Game Commission
-- Registration Open! Delaware River Sojourn June 14-20 - Celebrating 30 Years Of Paddling The Delaware
-- Warren Times: Volunteers Refurbishing Trailhead Kiosks Along Allegheny National Forests’ North Country Trail
-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Allegheny County Ready To Develop ‘Brilliant’ Trail Across Allegheny River At Aspinwall
-- TribLive: Former Brilliant Branch Rail Line A ‘Blank Canvas’ For Public Trails, Economic Growth
-- Tribune-Democrat: Somerset County Seeking Funds For ATV Trail Feasibility Study
-- PennLive: Environmental Activist Helps Bring New Park To Harrisburg Neighborhood
-- Discover NE PA: The Hidden Power Of Northeast PA’s Waterways
-- TribLive: Penguin Court Offers Native Plant Sale, Plans Master Naturalist Course In Westmoreland
-- PennLive: Fisherman Pulls 2 Kayakers From Dock Street Dam In Harrisburg: ‘They Weren’t Going To Last Long’
-- Erie Times: McKean County Man Pleads Guilty To One Charge, Fined In Federal Probe Of Ginseng Purchasing
-- Republican Herald: See The Grandeur Of Our Nation During National Park Week
[Posted: April 24, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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