State celebrates solar array at Pennsylvania’s Prince Gallitzin State Park

Patton, Pa. — On Oct. 20, Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn and Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jessica Shirley joined the statewide environmental nonprofit PennEnvironment for a tour of the solar array at Prince Gallitzin State Park in Cambria County.

More than 60 community members, Cambria Heights High School students, and local leaders attended the event to learn how solar energy projects like this one are helping state parks save money, reduce pollution, and move the commonwealth closer to net-zero energy use.

“DCNR is committed to leading by example when it comes to sustainability and clean energy,” Adams Dunn said.

“As Pennsylvania’s largest public land manager, we have a responsibility to operate efficiently, reduce our carbon footprint, and show what’s possible when renewable energy and conservation go hand in hand.”

Projects like the Prince Gallitzin solar array demonstrate how DCNR can save taxpayer dollars, support local clean energy jobs, and protect our natural resources for future generations, Adams Dunn noted.

“By incorporating solar and other energy innovations across state parks and forests, we’re building a cleaner, stronger, and more resilient Pennsylvania,” she said.

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DCNR installed the solar array at Prince Gallitzin State Park in August ’24 – the agency’s largest so far – as part of a growing portfolio of 37 solar arrays across state parks and forests that offset energy use, lower carbon pollution, and save taxpayer dollars.

At Prince Gallitzin, the ground-mounted array reduces greenhouse gas pollution by about 700 tons annually and saves roughly $100,000 each year in electricity costs – savings that have been reinvested in park improvements such as new picnic tables and grills, roof repairs, and an electric bike for rangers.

The array offsets most of the park’s electricity use, including the two public EV charging stations at the Marina Boathouse.

“This solar array isn’t just a model for how public lands across Pennsylvania and the nation can go solar,” said Carolena Bellini, PennEnvironment clean energy associate,   “it is also a reminder that with creativity and drive, we can jumpstart local homegrown renewable solar projects on schools, churches, warehouses, homes, or other ingenious sites.”

As Pennsylvania’s largest public landowner, DCNR manages 124 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forests – which are free and open to the public – and incorporates climate adaptation and mitigation into everyday operations through renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, vehicle emissions reduction and natural resource stewardship.