Nine new heat and power projects were announced this week by Gov. Rendell will create enough energy to power 180,000 homes for one year and slash carbon dioxide emissions equal to 180,000 passenger vehicles while creating jobs and stabilizing power distribution networks.

The combined heat and power, or CHP, projects will receive more than $12 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through Pennsylvania’s Green Energy Works! Grant program.

“We must explore all options and make the best possible use of our available resources to meet our future energy needs,” said Gov. Rendell. “These large-scale combined heat and power projects maximize those resources by taking a waste formed during one process and putting it to good use in another. This enables us to generate the best possible return on our investments.”

Combined, the nine projects will create nearly 15 megawatts of power capacity and generate more than 1.8 million megawatt hours of electricity over their lifetimes — enough to power 180,000 homes for one year. Putting the generated power to more efficient use onsite reduces electricity draws and increases the stability of local power distribution networks.

The projects will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1.1 million tons — the equivalent of the annual greenhouse gas emissions from 180,000 passenger vehicles.

“These projects will provide a significant boost to our economy by creating 23 permanent full- and part-time jobs along with an additional 270 temporary positions,” said Gov. Rendell. “They will also attract $15.7 million in additional investments.

“These investments are more evidence that Pennsylvania is becoming a leader in the field of alternative energy. These projects conserve energy and protect the environment, easing our reliance on foreign oil and making our state more energy independent.”

Combined heat and power projects generate power and thermal energy from a single fuel source.
Heat is a byproduct of conventional power generation but that heat is often wasted. CHP projects recycle that thermal energy and put it to beneficial use such as heating buildings and heating water, processes that would typically require the use of additional forms of energy. CHP projects can also capture waste heat in the form of steam and utilize it to generate electricity.

All projects must start work within six months and be completed within 24 months and before April 30, 2012.

Green Energy Works! will invest a total of $52 million of federal Recovery funding to develop large-scale green energy technologies that will help Pennsylvanians meet future energy needs. Future Green Energy Works! funding will be awarded to large-scale solar, biogas and wind projects.

A list of grants awarded is available online.