Local Program Spurs Statewide Climate Leadership
Since 2019, Penn State’s Local Climate Action Program (LCAP) has helped communities across Pennsylvania take measurable steps toward addressing climate change through applied research, greenhouse gas accounting, and student-driven planning assistance. The program, shared between Penn State Sustainability and the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, pairs state and local government with trained student teams to produce high-quality climate action deliverables that benefit both communities and students.
The program was launched through a partnership among the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, ICLEI USA, Penn State Sustainability, and the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering. Since Penn State took the program on in 2022, LCAP has served 29 municipalities and three counties with a combined population of about 2.1 million people, as well as the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that manages 20 state forests and over 120 state parks.
An interest session will be held at 2 p.m. on Feb. 4 for communities looking to learn more about partnering with LCAP. The session is free and past participants are welcome. Registration can be completed at this link.
Participating communities in the LCAP program receive support in developing greenhouse gas inventories, climate action plans, fleet electrification transition guides, energy or land-use policy analyses and more.
Students often assist with public engagement by developing community surveys, analyzing stakeholder feedback and preparing educational materials.
“Using best practices, the LCAP has partnered more than 70 Penn State students with communities across the commonwealth to act on climate change,” said Peter Buck, director for education at Sustain Penn State. “Students are not just learning climate science – they’re developing the skills required to support real-world climate leadership.”
According to Buck, because Pennsylvania has a large number of municipalities, many with part-time or volunteer elected officials and limited planning staff, LCAP’s technical assistance helps bridge capacity gaps. Municipal partners often report that their participation marks the first time they have had access to detailed emissions data or tailored climate strategies.
LCAP operates through two upper-level courses in the online Energy and Sustainability Policy program: ESP 481 and ESP 482. Co-directed by Buck and Brandi Robinson, associate teaching professor and director of online learning in the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, with teaching and technical support from Kelli Volkomer, adjunct lecturer in energy and mineral engineering, the courses blend policy analysis, environmental science, data analytics, and hands-on project development and communication.
Students learn to use industry-standard tools such as ClearPath greenhouse-gas accounting software, survey design platforms and multidisciplinary policy frameworks. These experiences, Buck noted, have contributed to graduates pursuing careers in sustainability planning, renewable energy development, environmental consulting and local government.
“Our graduates are managing solar and battery projects, developing city park forests, serving as sustainability planners in local governments, and consulting in large firms,” Buck said. “They are applying classroom skills immediately and making a tangible difference.”
LCAP’s alumni network has expanded significantly in recent years, leading to the formation of the LCAP Alumni Board, which supports mentorship, collaborates with faculty, and advocates for continued investment in community-based climate action education.
Graduate alum Mattea Derr wrote in a letter on behalf of the alumni board that LCAP “enriches student development, is accessible to all Penn State students (World Campus included), promotes success inside and outside the classroom, and creates desirable graduates with essential skills.” Derr emphasized that the program’s interdisciplinary approach builds leadership and management capabilities that extend well beyond students’ time in the classroom.
Another alum, Joe Thompson, reflected that his experience in the program “transformed my life, rewrote my story, and created the successful climate action leader, global citizen, and Penn State alumnus I am today.”
According to Buck, LCAP’s growth demonstrates increasing demand from municipalities for data-driven climate tools and support. Many communities return for continued participation, while others adopt the climate action plans or inventories developed through the program as foundational policy documents.
To learn more about the Local Climate Action Program or view past community projects, visit the LCAP website.
https://www.psu.edu/news/penn-state-sustainability/story/local-climate-action-program-drives-measurable-statewide-climate
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