This week the four regional Sustainable Energy Development Funds and the Pennsylvania Sustainable Energy Board met for their annual meeting to review progress on alternative and clean energy investments over the last year.

The Board also heard from DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty who made a presentation on the economic opportunities and environmental benefits of clean energy sources.

The four regional funds include the PECO Energy Sustainable Development Fund, the PPL Sustainable Energy Fund of Central Eastern PA, the Met-Ed/Penelec Sustainable Energy Fund and the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund.

The funds were created as a result of the electric companies’ restructuring plans and are designed to promote the development of sustainable and renewable energy programs and clean-air technologies on both a regional and statewide basis. To date, the funds have provided approximately $20 million in loans and $1.8 million in grants for more than 100 projects, about half of the over $40 million the funds are set to receive.

The Pennsylvania Sustainable Energy Board was created in 2003 by order of the PUC to help promote communication among the four regional Boards and state agencies and establish voluntary uniform business practices.

The Statewide Board includes representatives from the Commission; the Department of Environmental Protection; the Department of Community and Economic Development; the Office of Consumer Advocate; the Pennsylvania Environmental Council; and each regional board.

To get a flavor for what kind of innovative projects these regional funds support, the Statewide Board prepared an annual report on their activities. You can also go to each of the Sustainable Energy Funds for more specific information on their activities:

Met Ed Sustainable Energy Fund

Pennsylvania Electric (Penelec) Sustainable Energy Fund

Sustainable Development Fund

Pennsylvania Power and Light (PPL) Sustainable Energy Fund

West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF)

Reminder: Applications for funding under the DEP’s Energy Harvest Program to support alternative and clean energy projects are due July 25. You can apply almost anytime for funding to the regional sustainable energy funds.

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