On June 26, the US Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management announced $1.4 million in federal funding for 14 local organizations and universities representing communities across the country that will each create a roadmap toward repurposing their existing energy assets.

The Capacity Building for Repurposing Energy Assets initiative assists communities where a significant portion of their local economy has historically been supported by energy assets, such as coal, oil, and/or natural gas facilities and accompanying equipment and infrastructure.

Four of the projects, each receiving $100,000, were in Pennsylvania--

-- Penn State Extension, College of Agricultural Sciences (University Park, Pennsylvania): Assessing the transformation of abandoned oil and gas wells in Venango and Mercer Counties for renewable energy production—specifically targeting the agricultural sector's energy needs—utilizing a closed-loop geothermal system.

-- Indiana County Thrives (Indiana, Pennsylvania): Evaluating the development of an industrial ecosystem among four coal-fired generating units at the Florence, Pennsylvania Conemaugh Plant, brownfields, and abandoned lands.

-- Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (Ashley, Pennsylvania): Exploring the use of flooded mine pools at the abandoned Morea Mine Complex in Frackville, Pennsylvania to cool data centers and store thermal energy in conjunction with a new solar farm.

-- Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania): Evaluating the repurposing of abandoned oil and gas wells to provide heat for sustainable tunnel farming at Gruber Farms in Shippenville, Pennsylvania.

A previous round of funding from the same program supported projects in--

-- Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development (Shippingport, Pennsylvania) is planning to develop the multi-hundred-acre Shippingport Industrial Park to create a new epicenter for Beaver County and the greater Pittsburgh region, targeting the manufacturing, energy, construction, and transportation/warehousing sectors. 

-- Grow Rural PA (Ridgeway, Pennsylvania) plans to support the rural communities of Mountain View, Womer, and Swampoodle through the development of new green hydrogen infrastructure to anchor feedstock production for regional advanced manufacturing.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Related Article - Mine Reclamation:

-- PA Receives $28.6 Million In Federal Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program Funding; Local AML/AMD Project Funding Application Period Open  [PaEN]

Related Articles This Week - Watersheds:

-- PA Receives $28.6 Million In Federal Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program Funding; Local AML/AMD Project Funding Application Period Open  [PaEN]

-- EPA, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Award $22.4 Million To Support Innovative Nutrient & Sediment Reduction Projects In Chesapeake Bay Watershed; 8 Projects To Benefit PA  [PaEN]

-- Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds Announces $650,000 in Conservation Grants; Next Grant Round Opens In August  [PaEN]

-- Capital RC&D To Hold July 30 Pasture Walk On Grazing Practices And New Temporary Fencing Program At The Voight Family Farms In Lebanon County  [PaEN]

-- Allegheny County Conservation District Celebrates Completion Of Rain Gardens To Manage Stormwater, Enhance Biodiversity In Findlay Township  [PaEN]

-- PA Interfaith Power & Light Launches PA Plants Native! Initiative To Plant 100,000 Trees In Next 18 Months; Fall Tree Request Form Now Live!  [PaEN]

-- Master Watershed Stewards Host July 15 Annual Q/A Webinar On Fall Native Tree And Shrub Sale Species  [PaEN]

-- PA Sea Grant: 3 PA Educators To Participate In Shipboard Science Program On Lake Erie  [PaEN]

-- Request For Presentation Proposals: Ohio River Basin Alliance Summit Oct. 30 - Nov. 1 At University Of Pittsburgh  [PaEN]

-- Instead Of Fines, DEP Agrees To PA American Water Cleanup Of Silt In Roaring Brook, Lackawanna River; Creating Fish Habitat, Natural Enhancements Worth $300,000  [PaEN]

-- Environmental, Conservation Groups Seek To Intervene To Protect Municipal Riparian Buffer Ordinance In Monroe County  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Inside Climate News: The Chesapeake Bay Program Flunked Its 2025 Cleanup Goals, What Happens Next?

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal Forum: For The Chesapeake Bay, Federal Leadership Is Sorely Needed For 2025 And Beyond - By Ann Mills & Nancy Stoner

-- LancasterOnline: Lancaster Clean Water Partners To Benefit From $1.5 Million In EPA/NFWF Grants

-- WTAJ: Over $100,000 In Grants To Go Towards Central PA Conservation Efforts

-- News-Item: Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance Receives Foundation For PA Watersheds Grant To Support Watershed Manager

-- Allegheny County Conservation District Blog: Celebrating The Findlay Twp. Activity Center Rain Gardens

-- Warren Times Editorial: Streambank Work Vital To Area

-- FIG Lancaster: Allyson Gibson, Lancaster Clean Water Partners, Is Passionate About Clean And Clear Water

-- Penn State Extension Ag Progress Days To Be Held August 13-15

-- LebTown: Lebanon County Clean Water Alliance Wants To Know Your Water Improvement Project Stories

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Issues 2023 Impact Report - Helping Farmers Grow Climate Resilience, Education And Innovation

-- WVIA: DEP Reaches Sediment Pollution Deal With PA American Water For Polluted Lackawanna County Waterways

-- WVIA: Residents Fight ‘Greedy’ Poconos Warehouse Expansion

-- Citizens Voice: Pittston Twp. Takes Opposition To Warehouse In Residential Zone To PA Supreme Court

[Posted: June 28, 2024]

7/1/2024