The Meadville Community Energy Project announced this week it was expanding its activities in Crawford, Erie, and surrounding counties and changed its name to “The Commonwealth Community Energy Project.”

Since 1997, the Meadville Community Energy Project has served the Crawford County area by promoting sustainable energy in the service of community economic revitalization. These efforts have been highly successful and accomplished through the stewardship of Allegheny College and its Center for Economic and Environmental Development.

The Energy Project advances the efficient use of energy through community partnerships that stimulate the economy, improve social equity, and benefit the environment. The project grew out of a series of Allegheny College seminars in which students investigated the role of energy consumption in the local economy.

Current programs include Home Energy Ratings (to help homeowners and landlords identify the most cost-effective home improvements), the Home Energy Loan Program (4 percent loans up to $10,000 for energy improvements), and Congregations & Energy (assisting religious congregations with managing energy costs).

While originally focused on Meadville, most Energy Project programs now encompass Crawford and Erie Counties. The Project, as the only certified home energy rater in northwestern Pennsylvania, has conducted Home Energy Ratings as far away as Waynesburg and Clarion. It is currently working with Penn State’s University Park campus to develop a community energy program for Centre County.

The organization also recently became affiliated with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council in anticipation of expanded work throughout the Commonwealth.

“We’re very excited to be affiliated with two such outstanding partners as the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Allegheny College,” said Kathy Greely, director of the Energy Project. “We’ll be maintaining our roots in local partnerships while reaching out to replicate our successes over a broader region.”

“As one of the original advisory board members for the Energy Project, I know that it has been extremely effective in Northwest Pennsylvania,” said Brian Hill, Pennsylvania Environmental Council Interim President & CEO. “Our new partnership provides an opportunity to replicate the program in interested communities throughout the Commonwealth. Allegheny College and the staff of the Energy Project should be applauded for creating such an innovative program.”

The office for the Commonwealth Community Energy Project will remain at Allegheny College, which will provide office support for the organization and faculty and student participation in developing and implementing programs.

“The Meadville Community Energy Project was one of the first initiatives supported through our Center for Economic and Environmental Development, and it has been successful in providing real benefits to both the local and college communities,” said Linda C. DeMeritt, Dean of Allegheny College. “We are pleased that it has flourished and now forged a new affiliation with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and I am confident that the organization, under the leadership of Kathy Greely, will be effective in expanding its programs. This is good for Allegheny, the Energy Project, and sustainable energy initiatives throughout Pennsylvania.”

For more information, visit the Community Energy Project webpage or contact Kathy Greely at 814-332-2986.

1/20/2006