The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority this week approved financial assistance for 25 projects totaling $8.5 million that will leverage an additional $144 million in private investment.

The energy output from the projects will generate 3.5 million megawatt hours, enough to power about 437,000 Pennsylvania homes. Another 526,225 megawatt hours will be conserved. The projects also have the potential to produce 45 million gallons of biofuel.

The 25 projects will receive financial assistance in the form of grants or loans for a variety of clean electricity projects using sources such as wind, solar, biomass, waste coal and recycled energy. The funding also will finance comprehensive redevelopment plans and technological innovations using Pennsylvania fuels.

In June, PEDA awarded $6.5 million to finance 16 clean energy projects.

The PEDA projects were evaluated on a variety of criteria, including their ability to promote Pennsylvania’s indigenous energy resources, encourage energy diversity and enhance energy security. The projects were judged on their potential to create jobs and stimulate investment in the commonwealth. Potential environmental benefits, as well as technical feasibility and cost-effectiveness, also were considered.

The full list of projects funded is available online.

For more information, visit the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority webpage.

1/13/2006