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Energy Development Authority OKs Nearly $12 Million In Alternative Energy Project Funding

The PA Energy Development Authority this week announced the investment of nearly $12 million in alternative clean energy projects that will create at least 1,200 full- and part-time jobs and attract nearly $118 million in private investment.

“We are investing in Pennsylvania businesses and organizations that are committed to the development of clean-burning home-grown fuels and renewable energy sources,” said Gov. Rendell of the projects approved today by the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority. “The investment in innovative technologies and energy efficiency will help drive energy costs down, provide affordable energy, create good-paying, green jobs in communities throughout the state and reduce our dependence on foreign fuel.”

The projects announced today are expected to generate at least 488,363 megawatt hours of electricity and conserve another 2,500 megawatt hours, which is comparable to creating enough power from clean energy to power almost 50,000 homes.

The projects will also avoid polluting emissions from traditional power plants, including more than 310,000 tons of carbon dioxide, 2,000 tons of sulfur dioxide and 430 tons of nitrogen oxides – pollutants that combine to form ground-level ozone and smog, the equivalent to removing 55,000 cars from the road.

Some examples of projects include:

--Clarion County:Iron Oxide Recovery Inc.: $262,190 to install a solar system to dewater iron oxide from mine drainage. The resulting material is used to make EnvironOxide, a green construction product. The system will prevent the use of more than 9,000 gallons of diesel fuel, conserve 200,000 kWh of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide by more than 127 tons annually.

--School District of Philadelphia: $1 million for a geothermal heat pump HVAC system for use in an energy-efficient, green high school. The system will reduce energy costs by 40 percent, or more than $50,000 a year. The project is expected to create 30 permanent full-time jobs and 100 temporary jobs. Use of the system will avoid pollutants that form ground-level ozone and smog, and 160 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
 
--Schuylkill County:Fessler USA: $1 million to complete a solar photovoltaic installation. The project will generate 667,000 kWh per year of electricity and avoid air pollution from traditional power plants, including 506 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
 
The Alternative Energy Investment Fund passed by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Rendell in July will invest $665.9 million, of which $237.5 million is specifically targeted towards helping consumers conserve electricity and to manage higher energy prices and $428.4 million to spur the development of alternative energy resources and to create at least 10,000 good-paying jobs in these industries.

The Governor signed legislation last week to help consumers save $500 million over the next five years through a combination of conservation measures, energy efficiency tools and requirements that utilities provide service at the lowest reasonable rate.

Pennsylvania’s new energy conservation programs and alternative energy investment programs will benefit the state’s power consumers at work and at home and protect the environment.

Applicants for PEDA financing can seek grant assistance to help pay for capital costs for a variety of innovative, advanced energy projects, such as solar energy; wind; low-impact hydropower; geothermal; biologically derived methane gas, including landfill gas; biomass; fuel cells; coal-mine methane; waste coal; integrated gasification combined cycle; demand management measures, including recycled energy and energy recovery, energy efficiency and load management; and clean, alternative fuels for transportation.

Applicants with projects related to distributed generation for critical public infrastructure are particularly encouraged to apply. PEDA financing is available to organizations operating in Pennsylvania and to those businesses interested in locating advanced energy operations in the state.

A full list of projects approved by PEDA is available online.

NewsClips: Energy Grant Boosts Manufacturers In Clearfield, Elk Counties

Grant Will Help Montoursville Biofuel Plant Expand

Coal Township Alternative Energy Project Gets $150,000

Tobyhanna Army Depot Contractor Gets State Money For Energy Project

Grant Helps Manufacturer Work With Green Power


10/24/2008

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