January 14 Workshop On Renewable Energy Systems In Schools, Businesses

Pennsylvania Fuels for Schools and Beyond, a statewide multi-organization initiative promoting energy alternatives to Pennsylvania schools and businesses, is holding a public information meeting on January 14 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Adams County Agriculture and Natural Resource Center in Gettysburg.

 

Individuals and organizations are welcome to attend to find out how locally sustainable wood and energy crops (often called biomass) can be used to provide commercial heat at substantial savings over imported fuel oil and other fossil fuels in local communities.

 

The meeting will provide an introduction to the use of biomass for energy, highlight the technology and equipment used in a typical installation, as well as outline the economic benefits of selecting such a system. Case studies will be presented of successful projects presently installed throughout the Commonwealth, which are realizing significant cost savings to operators annually.

 

With 17 million acres of forestland in the Commonwealth, there is an abundance of underutilized wood throughout the state. A recent research project by the PA Hardwoods Development Council states that 6 million tons of wood could be utilized sustainably for wood-to-energy purposes on an annual basis in Pennsylvania. A typical installation at a school-sized institution consumes less than 2,500 tons per year.

 

Additional information about PA Fuels for Schools & Beyond, other dates/locations for public meetings and workshops can be found at www.pafuelsforschools.psu.edu. More in-depth workshops are being planned for spring of 2009 for those that would like to find out more about biomass systems after the initial public information meeting.

 

The Pennsylvania Fuels for Schools & Beyond Working Group is a partnership of more than fifty state and federal agencies, organizations, businesses and industries that support “Working local biomass energy into our lives responsibly.”

 

To reserve a seat for the January 14th meeting or for more information about the initiative, please contact the Capital Resource Conservation and Development Area Council office, at 717-724-0009 or send email to: Susan Richards at: susan.richards@rcdnet.net.