N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Northwest Regional Office
230 Chestnut St.
Meadville, PA 16335


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/20/2006

CONTACT:
Freda Tarbell
Phone: (814) 332-6816


MEADVILLE BUSINESS EARNS ENERGY STAR AWARD
Crawford County Supermarket Cuts Energy Usage, Increases Efficiency


MEADVILLE -- An independent family-owned grocery store in downtown Meadville, Crawford County, that scored near the top in a federal energy audit today received an ENERGY STAR® award for reducing energy use and improving efficiency.
Environmental Protection Northwest Regional Director Kelly Burch today awarded an ENERGY STAR® program plaque to Valesky’s Market and presented a letter of commendation from Governor Edward G. Rendell to the proprietors, brothers Garth and Bob Valesky, who have owned the store since 1979.

“The Valeskys have been ahead of the curve, making energy-wise choices based on their research into what would work for their business,” Burch said during the award presentation. “They have made a habit of factoring in long-term operational costs in their decision-making process, not just focusing on installation costs.

“DEP used a federal benchmarking program to conduct an energy survey at Valesky’s Market and found that the business is a top performer on a national scale,” Burch added.

Each time the Valesky brothers have upgraded and expanded the business, they have taken new steps to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs.

Garth Valesky says it is difficult to estimate the store’s total energy savings because the business has continuously expanded. However, he says the cost to heat the 28,000-square-foot market is approximately the same as it would be to heat an average-sized home.

“As independent business owners, we always have been very motivated to reduce our costs – and originally, that was the driving force when we rebuilt refrigeration units, installed new compressors and upgraded lighting,” Garth Valesky said. “We have been able to take advantage of energy-saving improvements offered by new technology.

“Over the years, our perspective has expanded as we became more aware of the environmental benefits of reducing energy consumption,” Garth Valesky continued. “My brother and I are glad to know that our business decisions are helping to protect the environment, especially in reducing greenhouse gases.”

The Valeskys are exploring new projects, including the possibility of adding of skylights that track the sun’s movements.

Based on its energy rating, DEP nominated Valesky’s Market for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR® label, which the federal agency approved. The ENERGY STAR® program was established in 1992 to help businesses reduce energy consumption through greater efficiency.

The ENERGY STAR® program helped Americans prevent 35 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2005 alone – equivalent to the annual emissions from 23 million vehicles – and save about $12 billion on their utility bills.

For more information on energy conservation, visit the department’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Energy.” For details about the ENERGY STAR® program, visit EPA at www.energystar.gov.




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2006

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
6/12/2006

CONTACT:
Kurt Knaus
Phone: (717) 787-1323


GOVERNOR RENDELL INAUGURATES GAMESA’S CAMBRIA COUNTY MANUFACTURING FACILITY



EBENSBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell today cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of Gamesa Corp.’s manufacturing facility for wind turbine generator blades – its first in North America – at the South Park Industrial Complex in Cambria County. More than 230 people will work at the new plant.

The Spanish wind-energy company is investing $84 million to locate its U.S. headquarters and four manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania. Aside from the Ebensburg plant, three new advanced technology plants are planned for Bucks County, where as many as 300 workers will produce wind mill blades and towers and assemble nacelles, which house the wind turbines.


“Alternative energy development is helping to power Pennsylvania’s economy,” Governor Rendell said. “We are attracting private investments and creating manufacturing jobs that will keep our commonwealth growing, improve our environment and enhance our already strong national leadership in building a clean energy future.”


Wind energy is a key part of Governor Rendell’s strategy to build a diversified energy base that ensures greater security for Pennsylvania, creates jobs and improves the environment.


Pennsylvania remains a leader in wind production east of the Mississippi, with 153 megawatts that provide enough clean energy to power 70,000 homes. The growth potential is significant. There are more than 5,000 megawatts of untapped wind power in the state, with the potential to generate 45 billion kilowatt-hours annually, or enough to power more than 5 million homes.


Gamesa President Alfonso Basagoiti noted the relevance of this important industrial project in the United States, “which reinforces the long-term commitment of the company with the U.S. wind power market and which is strengthened by a solid base of a significant order book in the wind turbine sales.”


Gamesa, one of the main wind energy companies in the world headquartered in Victoria, Spain, is the only vertically integrated wind-energy company in the world, meaning it manufactures the parts for wind-energy units and then develops the wind farms itself.


Governor Rendell’s innovative policies and strategic investments in cutting-edge projects have positioned Pennsylvania at the forefront of alternative energy development.


Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, one of the most progressive in the nation, ensures that 18 percent of all retail energy generated by 2020 comes from clean, efficient and advanced resources, creating jobs and cleaning up the environment.


Over the next decade, Pennsylvania will replace 900 million gallons of transportation fuel with locally produced alternative resources such as ethanol and biodiesel, or with fuels derived from coal liquefaction. The 900 million gallons represents the estimated amount of fuels that will be imported from the Persian Gulf to Pennsylvania 10 years from now. The Governor is investing $30 million over the next five years to build re-fueling and production infrastructure to support wide distribution of the alternative fuels.


Pennsylvania very well could be the nation’s leading producer of biodiesel within the year, going from virtually nil a year ago to a projected 40 million gallons of annual production. The state already is home to the East Coast’s first state-of-the-art biofuels injection facility. The plant will replace 3.2 million gallons of foreign oil with domestically produced biodiesel and keep at home $6 million worth of energy dollars by reducing the state’s need to purchase imported fuels.


The nation’s first coal gasification-liquefaction plant is being built in northeastern Pennsylvania. The facility will use waste coal to produce 40 millions of clean-burning diesel fuel each year. What the Governor is doing to support the project is unprecedented, creating a fuel consortium with private industry to purchase nearly all of the offtake. Pennsylvania will lock in its supply for some 10 years at prices well below current market values and ensure a long-term, viable market for the plant.


Pennsylvanians now spend some $30 billion per year on imported energy fuels. Instead of spending overseas, Governor Rendell is investing at home and putting Pennsylvanians to work.


Brought back to life after years of inactivity, the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority has awarded $15 million in grants and loans for 41 clean energy projects that will leverage $200 million in private investment. The projects will create 1,558 permanent and construction jobs.


The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program has awarded $15.9 million and leveraged another $43.7 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003 for projects using sources such as wind, solar, biomass, waste coal and recycled energy.


“Advanced energy technology is about achieving both environmental protection and economic development – at the same time,” Governor Rendell said.


A testament to the effectiveness of the Governor’s economic development policies is the recent report from the Corporation for Enterprise Development showing that Pennsylvania jumped from 46th in 2004 in short-term job growth to 15th last year. The state economy has added more than 122,000 jobs since Governor Rendell took office in 2003.


Site Selection magazine ranks Pennsylvania among the top 10 states with the most new and expanded corporate facilities, outperforming the entire Northeast -- the first time since at least 1999 that our commonwealth ranked first in the region. Pennsylvania went from seventh in 2004 to sixth last year in the number of manufacturing facility projects underway, according to the magazine.


Site Selection magazine also ranked Pennsylvania fourth nationally in the number of new manufacturing facilities in 2005. Since 2002, the number of new manufacturing projects in the state has nearly tripled to 76 projects in 2005.


This optimism on Pennsylvania’s economy is supported by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, whose 2005 economic survey revealed that about 80 percent of its members expect to increase their investments in Pennsylvania in the next 12 months.


For more information on Governor Rendell’s energy initiatives, visit DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Energy.”





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2006

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Southcentral Regional Office
909 Elmerton Ave.
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/11/2006

CONTACT:
Sandra Roderick
Phone: (717) 705-4931


DEP JOINS DEDICATION OF LANDFILL-GAS-TO-ENERGY PROJECT IN LANCASTER COUNTY



HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania continues to build on its national leadership of using landfill gas to power the economy and provide businesses with the clean, cheap energy supply they need to compete and succeed.
Environmental Protection officials today joined Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority and Turkey Hill Dairy to dedicate a new landfill-gas-to-energy project at the authority’s Frey Farm and Creswell Landfills. The venture was funded in part by a $650,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Energy Deployment Authority.

“Landfill gas emitted from decomposing garbage is a reliable and renewable fuel option that remains largely untapped at landfills across the state,” said Daniel Desmond, deputy secretary of DEP’s Office of Energy Technology Deployment. “We have a unique opportunity to power our economy by putting to use resources that otherwise are wasted and threaten our environment. This provides businesses and residents with clean, reliable, affordable energy.”

This project captures landfill methane and converts it to electricity and steam that will be sent to the boiler system at Turkey Hill Dairy. Two Caterpillar engines fueled by landfill gas will produce 3,200 kilowatts -- enough to power about 4,000 homes. The electricity will be exported into the utility grid for use.

Two boilers on the engine enclosures will make steam that will go to the boiler system at Turkey Hill Dairy. Enough steam will be provided to offset about 85 percent, or more than 225,000 gallons of diesel fuel, used annually in Turkey Hill’s boilers. Turkey Hill uses the steam to clean its equipment.

Desmond said that on an annual basis, enough landfill gas will be used through the landfill authority project to save 400,000 barrels of oil, offset the use of 800 railcars of coal and provide greenhouse gas reduction benefits equal to planting 48,000 acres of forest.

Pennsylvania recently was recognized for its national leadership in working to put landfill gas to work for the economy. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency selected Pennsylvania and a state-supported project for awards under its Landfill Methane Outreach Program.

EPA cited Governor Edward G. Rendell’s many initiatives to encourage and foster use of landfill methane gas. The Governor has focused efforts on capturing the methane and piping the landfill gas directly to serve businesses to keep jobs in Pennsylvania.

The state’s landfill-gas-to-energy projects reduce emissions equivalent to taking 47,027 cars off the road, offset the use of 1,202 railcars of coal, prevent the use of 570,332 barrels of oil and equal the beneficial effect of planting 72,448 acres of forest.

For more information about landfill methane gas and Pennsylvania’s alternative energy program, visit DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Energy.”

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/10/2006

CONTACT:
Kurt Knaus
Phone: (717) 787-1323


GOVERNOR RENDELL UNVEILS ‘PENNSECURITY FUELS INITIATIVE’ TO LESSEN DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL, GROW STATE’S CLEAN ENERGY MARKET
Northeast’s First Publicly Available E85 Ethanol Fueling Station Opens for Business in PA


LITITZ, Lancaster County -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today launched a bold new initiative to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil by injecting 900 million gallons of domestically-produced fuel into the state’s gasoline and diesel supplies over the next decade, furthering the commonwealth’s solid leadership in deploying homegrown energy solutions.

“Pennsylvania is powering a revolution in the way America produces fuel and thinks about energy,” Governor Rendell said. “We are using homegrown biofuels and ethanol, and Pennsylvania’s vast coal reserves to become more energy independent. By focusing public and private investments in new technologies that create jobs and clean the environment, we can provide our consumers and businesses with the reliable sources of affordable energy they need to compete and succeed.


The Governor unveiled his “PennSecurity Fuels Initiative” while inaugurating the first publicly-available E85 ethanol blend fueling station in Pennsylvania. Worley & Obetz’s WoGo service station in Lititz, Lancaster County, is the first publicly available refueling station in the Northeast to dispense fuel that is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.


Governor Rendell’s plan spurs clean domestic fuel development, diversifying supplies to enhance security and stabilize costs. Motorists across Pennsylvania and much of the country continue to pay record-high fuel prices. The initiative will protect consumers and businesses from crippling price spikes and possible supply disruptions associated with imported oil from unstable foreign regimes, replacing it with clean, alternative fuels made in Pennsylvania.


Among the key elements of the Governor’s PennSecurity Fuels Initiative:


· Replace 900 million gallons of the state’s transportation fuels over the next decade with alternative sources, such as ethanol and biodiesel, or with fuels derived from coal liquefaction processes equipped with carbon offsets. The 900 million gallons represents the forecasted amount of fuels that will be imported from the Persian Gulf to Pennsylvania 10 years from now.


· Require that a certain percentage of transportation fuels sold at retail in Pennsylvania contain eligible fuels. Eligible fuels include ethanol, biodiesel, coal-derived sources, methane gas derived from landfills or coal-mine methane used in transportation, and biodiesel used as a replacement for petroleum engine lubricants. Substitution of biofuel for petroleum-based home-heating products also will receive credit.


· Invest $30 million in existing funds from the state’s Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program over the next five years to build re-fueling and production infrastructure to support the standard for alternative fuel distribution to consumers.


· Create incentives that open new markets to Pennsylvania farmers who grow the feedstock to produce ethanol and biodiesel, and encourage clean technology that puts to use the state’s vast coal reserves to reduce foreign fuel dependency, create new jobs and economic growth, improve the environment and build a diversified energy base. Extra credits will be provided for fuels derived from Pennsylvania feedstock.


· Provide safeguards against price increases by allowing alterations or delays in the compliance schedule if prices of eligible alternative fuels rise above conventional fuels by a certain level for a prolonged period. Additionally, a credit trading system will be set up to further enhance the suite of compliance options.


Governor Rendell has charged the departments of Environmental Protection and Agriculture with forming a stakeholder group with the General Assembly, trucking associations, refiners and fuel retailers, farming organizations, conservation groups and others to draft legislation by July 31.


“This initiative will do for transportation fuels what our Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard is doing for electricity production: restore Pennsylvania’s environment by ensuring more fuel comes from clean, renewable resources and promote economic development by encouraging investments in advanced technologies,” Governor Rendell said.


Pennsylvanians now spend some $30 billion per year on imported energy fuels. But using and developing homegrown energy sources and supplies has a multiplier effect in local and regional economies that can yield significant economic benefits. Instead of spending overseas, Governor Rendell is investing at home and putting Pennsylvanians to work.


Governor Rendell’s PennSecurity Fuels Initiative encourages the domestic production and use of alternative fuels, generating economic development opportunities for agricultural and rural communities while enhancing energy security and moderating future price spikes. Locally-produced fuels can be sent directly to Pennsylvania distributors and retailers regardless of economic or political impediments caused by international markets or commodity trader speculation.


“Pennsylvania has made great strides that have helped our commonwealth emerge as a national leader in renewable energy production and promotion,” Governor Rendell said.


Four other states – Hawaii, Minnesota, Montana and Washington – have implemented fuel standards. Other states are proposing similar transportation fuel portfolios. Governor Rendell’s initiative builds on, and expands, these efforts by aiming to deploy the full array of Pennsylvania’s indigenous resources while enhancing environmental protection. The Governor’s plan encompasses a larger amount and broader array of eligible fuels, including sources derived from coal liquifaction, landfill gas or coal mine methane.


Pennsylvanians used 6.2 billion gallons of on-road gasoline and diesel last year. Projected retail gasoline and diesel usage in 10 years is estimated to top 7.7 billion gallons, according to federal projections. The resource potential to produce domestic alternative fuels is substantial.


The United States produced 75 million gallons of biodiesel last year. Pennsylvania currently has two biodiesel production facilities with 3 million gallons of annual capacity. As much as 40 million gallons of biofuel production is expected to come on line over the next year in the commonwealth, making Pennsylvania the leader in soy-based fuels production nationwide.


Biodiesel generally is derived from soybeans or canola oil, or from used cooking oils or restaurant grease from the food industry. Biodiesel is used in vehicles that run on diesel fuel and can be blended into conventional diesel fuel in differing percentages, including B2, which is 2-percent biodiesel, B5, B10, B20 or B100, which is 100-percent biodiesel.


Total national ethanol capacity is 4.3 billion gallons annually, the vast majority of which is corn-based. Cellulosic ethanol, which is produced from wood waste or other plants such as switchgrass, holds tremendous promise for Pennsylvania. The state contains enough plant matter to produce more than 500 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year.


Ethanol is used to replace gasoline, generally in a volume of 10 percent, or as E10, to meet federal air quality regulations in places such as the five-county Philadelphia area. E85 requires specific fueling stations, such as the one opened today by Worley & Obetz subsidiary WoGo, and flexible fuel vehicles.


Governor Rendell has gained national attention for launching major initiatives to build a clean energy future.


The nation’s first coal gasification-liquefaction plant is proposed for construction in Schuylkill County, where the plant will use waste coal to produce 40 millions of clean-burning diesel fuel each year. The state worked with private industry to ensure a long-term, viable market for the plant by creating a fuel consortium that will purchase nearly all of the offtake. Pennsylvania will lock in its supply for some 10 years at prices well below current market values.


With $219,908 in state aid from Governor Rendell, the East Coast’s first state-of-the-art biofuels injection facility opened last fall in Dauphin County. The plant will replace 3.2 million gallons of foreign oil with domestically produced biodiesel, and it will keep $6 million worth of energy dollars in Pennsylvania by reducing the state’s need to purchase imported fuels.


With encouragement and support of Governor Rendell, coal-mine methane is being captured and used for fuel rather than simply being vented into the air and wasted. The commonwealth recently was recognized for its national energy leadership in working to put landfill gas to work for the economy. Putting these resources to use to power the economy provides a clean, cheap energy supply that businesses can use to keep jobs in Pennsylvania.


Governor Rendell last year launched major effort to replace conventional vehicles with hybrid vehicles. In the coming fiscal year, the state will purchase 30 hybrids and set in motion a process to continually build on this commitment so that by 2011, fully 25 percent of the fleet will be hybrids.


For more information about Governor Rendell’s energy leadership, please visit DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Energy.”

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N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/8/2006

CONTACT:
Charlie Young
Phone: (717) 787-1323


GOVERNOR RENDELL ANNOUNCES $10 MILLION FOR CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENTS
$5 Million Available in Fourth Round of Energy Harvest; Third PEDA Round Offers


HARRISBURG -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced Pennsylvania will create jobs in the rapidly growing alternative energy industry and provide affordable, reliable energy for commonwealth businesses and residents by investing $10 million in new clean energy projects.

“Pennsylvania is changing the way clean energy is produced and distributed,” Governor Rendell said. “This $10 million investment will continue the commonwealth’s leadership in one of the most important issues of our time: energy security.


“These grants will leverage private investments to deploy the next generation of clean, renewable energy sources made in Pennsylvania. We are putting Pennsylvania at the front of the line in one of the most dynamic industry sectors in the world and creating jobs that lift up commonwealth families and help our businesses grow.”


Governor Rendell made $5 million in grants available for the third round of Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority funding. Brought back to life by the Governor after years of inactivity, PEDA has awarded $15 million in grants and loans for 41 clean energy projects that will leverage another $200 million in private investment. The projects will create 1,558 permanent and construction jobs. Research projects, if successful, could net as many as 327 full-time jobs.


The Governor also announced $5 million in available grants for the fourth round of funding under the Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program. The program has awarded $15.9 million and leveraged another $43.7 million in private funds for more than 100 clean energy projects since its inception in 2003.


Both programs will begin accepting applications May 8. The deadline for receipt of applications for both programs is July 14.


“These financing programs are a cornerstone of Governor Rendell’s strategy to provide clean, reliable energy from Pennsylvania sources,” Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said.


“By leveraging these grants with private investments to promote energy production, and by using the state’s leadership to advance energy efficiency and conservation, we will turn our energy challenges into opportunities to create the jobs we need and secure a higher quality of life through environmental improvements,” McGinty said.


Energy Harvest grants will fund innovative energy deployment projects that emphasize protecting Pennsylvania’s air or water quality while supporting economic development and enhancing the quality of life in the commonwealth.


Eligible proposals include renewable energy deployment, including biomass energy; waste coal reclamation for energy; deployment of innovative energy efficiency technologies; and distributed generation projects.


Applicants for PEDA financing can seek grant assistance for capital costs for a variety of innovative, advanced energy projects and for businesses interested in locating their advanced energy operations in Pennsylvania.


Eligible PEDA projects may include solar energy; wind; low-impact hydropower; geothermal; biologically derived methane gas, including landfill gas; biomass; fuel cells; coal-mine methane; waste coal; integrated gasification combined cycle; demand management measures, including recycled energy and energy recovery, energy efficiency and load management; and clean, alternative fuels for transportation.


PEDA project priorities include solar, distributed generation for critical public infrastructure and clean, alternative fuels for transportation.


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


PEDA and Energy Harvest are among a number of clean energy initiatives launched by Governor Rendell.


Pennsylvania is home to one of the nation’s most progressive alternative energy portfolio standards, ensuring that 18 percent of all energy generation comes from clean, efficient sources by 2020. Benefits of the policy include $10 billion in increased output for the commonwealth, $3 billion in additional earnings and as many as 4,000 new jobs for residents over the next 20 years.


Pennsylvania remains a leader in wind production east of the Mississippi, providing enough clean energy to power some 70,000 homes. Gamesa, the second largest wind energy company in the world, is investing $84 million in Pennsylvania for four manufacturing facilities and its North American headquarters. As many as 1,000 jobs will be created over five years.


The nation’s very first coal gasification-liquefaction is proposed for Schuylkill County. Construction of Waste Management and Processors Inc.’s waste-coal-to-diesel plant would create as many as 1,000 jobs; operating the plant would produce another 600 permanent, high-paying positions. The proposed plant would clean up tens of millions of tons of waste coal while giving the state and consumers clean diesel at a fraction of the market price.


The Governor also launched the East Coast’s first commercially viable biofuels storage and blending system in Middletown, Dauphin County. The plant will replace 3.2 million gallons of foreign oil with domestically produced biodiesel and will keep about $6 million worth of energy dollars in the commonwealth by reducing the state’s need to purchase imported fuels.


Pennsylvania recently was recognized for its national energy leadership in working to put landfill gas to work for the economy. Granger Energy’s Lanchester Landfill project supplies treated gas to several companies to use in place of natural gas in boilers and processes, displacing their reliance on natural gas. Putting this resource to use to power the economy offers a clean, cheap energy supply that businesses can use to keep jobs in Pennsylvania.


For more information, please visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keywords “PEDA” and “Energy Harvest.”

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/3/2006

CONTACT:
Charlie Young
Phone: (717) 787-1323


INVESTMENTS IN PA ENERGY PROJECTS TOPPED $120 MILLION IN 2005, GOVERNOR RENDELL SAYS



HARRISBURG -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today said commonwealth and federal agencies invested $120 million in Pennsylvania energy-related projects in 2005.

“We are working together to turn the challenges of rising oil prices and unstable foreign suppliers into opportunities that create jobs in Pennsylvania and protect our environment,” Governor Rendell said. “Through continuing strategic investments, we are making Pennsylvania a leader in energy development to significantly reduce our reliance on imported oil.”


Pennsylvania issued 269 alternative energy and energy efficiency awards in 2005 through the Small Business Advantage Grant Program, Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program, Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (which issues grants and loans), Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program, and state energy programs. The amount awarded to Pennsylvania-based companies, organizations and individuals totaled nearly $21 million.


Federal agencies issued a total of 151 awards worth $99 million to Pennsylvania-based companies and organizations.


“The partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy and the states is critical to our national energy goals,” said James Powell, DOE’s manager of weatherization and intergovernmental affairs. “Pennsylvania’s commitment to energy efficiency and alternative energy policies and projects is exemplary. I commend the state of Pennsylvania’s leadership.”


The 2005 investment totals were compiled by the Department of Environmental Protections’s Office of Energy and Technology Deployment. OETD tracks federal, private and other nonprofit organization’s solicitations posted in the “Technology Clearinghouse” to determine the true picture of funding opportunities, awards and successes, with particular attention on Pennsylvania.


The clearinghouse provides a single location where interested parties can reduce the time spent searching the myriad of funding sources to quickly find up-to-date information on funding opportunities.


The solicitations posted on the clearinghouse are consolidated into an easy-to-read table matrix, along with brief abstracts of each funding opportunity. The Web site is found at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword “Technology Clearinghouse.” Follow the link to “Funding Opportunities.”


Solicitations and awards tracked include those promoting energy efficiency, electric generation or conservation, alternative fuels, pollution prevention and sustainability. During 2005, a total of 105 state, federal, private and other nonprofit organization solicitations were posted on the OETD Technology Clearinghouse Funding Opportunities Web site.


“Many of these grant solicitations promote conservation and energy efficiency, pointing to their significance in meeting our energy needs,” DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. “With oil prices again increasing rapidly, conservation is one of the quickest ways to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and improve the air we breathe.”


DEP staff routinely seeks and receives information from a number of sources for various technology-related funding opportunities that are consistent with the department’s mission. Many of these opportunities, primarily at the federal level, are evaluated and then posted on the Technology Clearinghouse Web page.


While the state’s energy office focuses primarily on energy, pollution prevention and sustainability funding opportunities for research and development and technology deployment projects, solicitations associated with general technology, science and engineering are also listed in the clearinghouse.


The department will continue its efforts to track results of projects that were funded in 2005 along with opportunities and awards in 2006. Recognizing that most awards are announced publicly through various media, successful Pennsylvania-based award recipients are encouraged to contact OETD as a confirmation, and to report progress and noteworthy accomplishments throughout the project. Maintaining contact will also provide the opportunity for OETD to share information on state and federal funding opportunities for existing or potentially new projects.


For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword “Technology Clearinghouse,” or contact OETD Program Specialist Jeff Painter at (717) 783-8411.

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/2/2006

CONTACT:
Kurt Knaus
Phone: (717) 787-1323


GOVERNOR RENDELL PARTNERS WITH KENTUCKY, OHIO TO ATTRACT $1 BILLION CLEAN-COAL, ZERO-EMISSION POWER PLANT
Partnership Latest in Series of Actions by Governor Rendell to Accelerate Alternative Fuel Development, Increase Domestic Fuel Supply


HARRISBURG -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced Pennsylvania is partnering with Kentucky and Ohio to bring to the region the world’s first coal-fueled, near-zero-emissions power plant -- a $1 billion project proposed by the FutureGen Industrial Alliance and the U.S. Department of Energy.

“This project promises to help decrease our dangerous dependence on foreign fuel, diversify our energy base to make us more secure at home and generate investments in new technologies that create jobs and clean the environment,” Governor Rendell said. “The partnership also showcases why America’s energy past is grounded here, and why the country’s energy future starts here, too.


“If we want to achieve greater energy independence, then we need to change the way America produces fuel and thinks about energy. Oil companies continue to bring in huge profits at the expense of the average American family and business.”


Governor Rendell, Ohio Governor Bob Taft and Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher have entered into a formal agreement to support the region’s efforts to secure the proposed FutureGen power plant. The 275-megawatt facility will create more than 100 full-time research and facility jobs, an additional 1,000 construction jobs and increased university research activities.


The three governors also have agreed to create an Ohio River Valley Coal Research Consortium of the states’ major universities and other research and technology development organizations. The consortium will advance the research objectives of FutureGen, provide review mechanisms for spin-off research projects, help transfer technological developments to industry and facilitate ongoing research collaborations.


Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh have agreed to offer and facilitate fundamental research support for FutureGen research activities.


The last year has seen an unrelenting increase in gas prices, forcing motorists across Pennsylvania and much of the country to pay record-high prices to fill up their cars. Although prices may level off, there is little chance they will retreat back to where they were in recent years.

Governor Rendell said recent energy and gasoline price spikes should serve as a warning to all American leaders that the time has come to promote conservation and clean domestic fuel development. The Governor has launched some major initiatives to build a clean energy future in Pennsylvania. With $219,908 in state aid, the East Coast’s first state-of-the-art biofuels injection facility opened last fall in Dauphin County. The plant will replace 3.2 million gallons of foreign oil with domestically produced biodiesel, and it will keep $6 million worth of energy dollars in Pennsylvania by reducing the state’s need to purchase imported fuels.


Governor Rendell last year banned the purchase of conventional SUVs for the state vehicle fleet and is building on this initiative with a major effort to replace conventional vehicles with hybrid vehicles. In the coming fiscal year, the state will purchase 30 hybrids and set in motion a process to continually build on this commitment so that by 2011, fully 25 percent of the fleet will be hybrids.


At least nine states have expressed interest in competing for FutureGen. All states competing for FutureGen must submit formal proposals to the FutureGen Industrial Alliance in Washington, D.C., by May 4, 2006. Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky will support each other through the evaluation processes to increase the chances of the plant being constructed locally.


FutureGen is a unique opportunity to demonstrate clean-coal technology and create new markets for the vast coal reserves in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Ohio, and offers the potential for environmentally sensitive redevelopment of the same coalfields that fueled and sustained the industrialization of the American economy for some two centuries.


Governor Rendell’s vision and leadership have made Pennsylvania a leader in advancing clean coal technology. The Governor has put the policies and financial incentives in place needed to develop the state’s indigenous natural resources, especially coal.


Pennsylvania is home to one of the nation’s most progressive alternative energy portfolio standards, ensuring that 18 percent of all energy generated by 2020 comes from clean, efficient and advanced resources -- not just traditional renewables such as solar and wind power, but also coal mine methane, waste coal and coal gasification.


The nation’s first coal gasification-liquefaction plant is proposed for construction in northeastern Pennsylvania, where the plant will use waste coal to produce 40 millions of clean-burning diesel fuel each year. Other state-of-the-art waste coal power plants are powering the state’s economy by putting to use this energy source that otherwise would be a threat to the environment and a hazard to public health.


With encouragement and support of Governor Rendell, coal mine methane also is being captured and used for fuel rather than simply being vented into the air and wasted. Not only are projects like this a boon to the environment, but with record-high natural gas prices, this new fuel source benefits the economy as well.


For more information about Governor Rendell’s energy initiatives, visit the Department of Environmental Protection’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword “Energy.”

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/2/2006

CONTACT:
Charlie Young
Phone: (717) 787-1323


DEP OFFERS WORKSHOP IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS CUT ENERGY COSTS



HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection will provide a half-day workshop in Allegheny County to help owners of small and medium-sized businesses reduce energy costs and increase profits.
The meeting will be held at 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9 at DEP’s Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Dr., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County.

“Small and medium-sized businesses have little room in their budgets for increased expenses,” DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. “With recent record-high oil and natural gas prices, we want to make sure Pennsylvania businesses take advantage of every opportunity to conserve energy, save money and remain competitive.”

DEP’s Office of the Small Business Ombudsman is partnering with the Electrotechnology Application Center at Northampton Community College’s Center for Business and Industry to provide the energy management workshop.

The workshop will offer business owners information on energy supply options, illustrate how to identify energy cost-saving opportunities and explain how to initiate an energy management program. Particular emphasis will be given to easily implemented, cost-effective changes for small commercial and industrial facilities.

Registration for the workshop is free, and the session is open to the general public. Local government officials also are encouraged to attend.

Similar workshops are being held statewide this spring.

“These workshops will demonstrate to small business owners how to implement measures that can reduce energy usage at their business, save on energy costs, improve the environment and boost their bottom lines,” McGinty said.

DEP’s Office of the Small Business Ombudsman provides assistance to small businesses needing help with environmental issues and helps owners realize the potential cost savings of pollution prevention and energy conservation strategies.

ETAC manufacturers evaluate and integrate electrotechnologies that will increase productivity, minimize environmental impact and improve energy efficiencies.

Funding for the Energy Management Workshops is provided through a U.S. Department of Energy grant.

For more information or to request a registration form, contact DEP at 717-783-8411 or visit DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Ombudsman.”

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/17/2006

CONTACT:
Kurt Knaus
Phone: (717) 787-1323


FEDERAL MERCURY RULE WILL EXPORT JOBS, ENERGY DOLLARS FROM PENNSYLVANIA



HARRISBURG -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Air Mercury Rule will cost Pennsylvania jobs and export energy investments to other states, Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said today.
“EPA’s rule encourages utilities to invest in improvements to facilities in other states instead of upgrading power plants in Pennsylvania,” McGinty said. “Not only does the federal rule send energy dollars and construction jobs out of state, but it also makes our commonwealth less competitive by discouraging enhancements to our own energy infrastructure.

“We need to change course to keep our economy strong.”

Because of banking and trading provisions in the federal mercury rule, utilities can buy their way out of cleaning up mercury pollution at Pennsylvania power plants. Utilities do not have to make emission reductions. Instead, they can purchase these reductions from upgraded facilities in other states as opposed to investing to clean up plants in Pennsylvania. There are no guarantees that Pennsylvania will see any significant reduction in mercury emissions.

This cost would be borne by Pennsylvania utilities and ultimately commonwealth residents, who would pay to upgrade competitor’s plants and clean up other state’s environments.

Historically with trading programs, Pennsylvania utilities have purchased their reductions instead of investing to improve their plants. The result is a “paper” reduction rather than any “actual” drop in emissions from Pennsylvania plants. For example, total current sulfur dioxide allowances to address acid rain equal 540,000 tons. Pennsylvania facilities emit 1 million tons of sulfur dioxide per year, meaning the commonwealth pays for improvements at plants in other states sufficient to reduce their pollution by about 460,000 tons.

In fact, power companies in Pennsylvania have bought credits and thereby paid for upgrades at plants in other states to a greater extent than power companies in any other state in the union.

“If we keep paying to upgrade plants in the Midwest, it won’t be long before our plants get shut down in favor of their upgraded, better-performing competitors as the power grid increasingly becomes more integrated,” McGinty said. “In just the last few years, the grid that serves Pennsylvania now serves all or part of 13 states. We push policies that push upgrades out of state at our peril.

“Governor Rendell’s state-specific rule keeps these investment dollars in Pennsylvania and creates jobs by insisting that scrubbers and other control technologies be installed on power plants in the commonwealth to keep our economy growing and our environment clean,” McGinty said.

The federal rule also sets the toughest standards for Pennsylvania’s bituminous coal and encourages utilities to meet mercury reduction obligations by switching to sub-bituminous coal mined in the West. This “fuel switching” provision may result in a very real and significant economic dislocation for the state’s coal industry.

Pennsylvania’s proposed state-specific rule preserves the market share for bituminous coal by presuming compliance for electric generating units that burn 100 percent bituminous with advanced air control technologies. Governor Rendell’s proposed rule will make it tougher to switch fuels, protecting and growing the market for Pennsylvania coal.

“The simple fact is this: The federal rule burdens our coal communities and drives investments out of Pennsylvania -- creating jobs to upgrade plants in other states as our facilities grow increasingly outdated and uncompetitive,” McGinty said.

Details about Pennsylvania’s state-specific mercury reduction plan are available on DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keywords: “Mercury Rule.”

.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This release is the second in a series to address key issues regarding Pennsylvania’s state-specific mercury reduction proposal. Visit the department’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa for all the releases and related articles.

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/12/2006

CONTACT:
Charlie Young
Phone: (717) 787-1323


DEP OFFERS WORKSHOP IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS CUT ENERGY COSTS



HARRISBURG -- The Department of Environmental Protection will provide half-day workshop in Montgomery County to help owners of small and medium-sized businesses reduce energy costs and increase profits.
The meeting will be held at 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 18 at DEP’s Southeast Regional Office, 2 E. Main St., Norristown, Montgomery County.

“Small and medium-sized businesses have little room in their budgets for increased expenses,” DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. “With recent record-high oil and natural gas prices, we want to make sure Pennsylvania businesses take advantage of every opportunity to conserve energy, save money and remain competitive.”

DEP’s Office of the Small Business Ombudsman is partnering with the Electrotechnology Application Center at Northampton Community College’s Center for Business and Industry to provide the energy management workshop.

The workshop will offer business owners information on energy supply options, illustrate how to identify energy cost-saving opportunities and explain how to initiate an energy management program. Particular emphasis will be given to easily implemented, cost-effective changes for small commercial and industrial facilities.

Registration for the workshop is free, and the session is open to the general public. Local government officials also are encouraged to attend.

Similar workshops are being held statewide this spring.

“These workshops will demonstrate to small business owners how to implement measures that can reduce energy usage at their business, save on energy costs, improve the environment and boost their bottom lines,” McGinty said.

DEP’s Office of the Small Business Ombudsman provides assistance to small businesses needing help with environmental issues and helps owners realize the potential cost savings of pollution prevention and energy conservation strategies.

ETAC manufacturers evaluate and integrate electrotechnologies that will increase productivity, minimize environmental impact and improve energy efficiencies.

Funding for the Energy Management Workshops is provided through a U.S. Department of Energy grant.

For more information or to request a registration form, contact DEP at 717-783-8411 or visit DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Ombudsman.”

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/12/2006

CONTACT:
Kerry Chippo
Phone: (717) 787-1323


GOVERNOR RENDELL ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2005 GOVERNOR’S AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE



BETHLEHEM, Northampton County -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today honored Lehigh Valley Industrial Park Inc. for its successful remediation and redevelopment of the former Bethlehem Steel Corp. site, the largest privately owned brownfield property in the nation.

“Pennsylvania is working with residents and businesses to make environmental protection an engine of economic growth,” Governor Rendell said. “Lehigh Valley Industrial Park is a perfect example of how investments in environmental protection can spur innovation and foster productivity. The work at the former Bethlehem Steel property will generate in excess of $1.5 billion in new investments and create 6,000 jobs in the Lehigh Valley.”


Lehigh Valley Industrial Park Inc. was as one of 12 winners of the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty announced all of the winners during a ceremony with industrial park officials at the former steel site.


“Governor Rendell has made clear that his number one objective is economic revitalization --- to create the jobs we critically need,” McGinty said. “Our commonwealth is thriving, and the work of groups like the Lehigh Valley Industrial Park Inc. will ensure we achieve lasting growth. This once contaminated and abandoned industrial site is flourishing again with opportunity.”


Since Bethlehem Steel Corp. ceased manufacturing, site redevelopment has been a priority in the Lehigh Valley. The 1,600-acre property, named the Bethlehem Commerce Center, represents 20 percent of the city’s taxable land and represents the region’s single most important economic development project.


In May 2004, Lehigh Valley Industrial Park acquired 1,000 acres of the site and embarked on redevelopment. The property contained the remnants of 140 years of steel manufacturing --- buried building foundation, abandoned infrastructure lines, contaminated soil and groundwater. Through the use of engineering and institutional controls such as capping impacted soils and limiting groundwater use through deed restrictions, redevelopment of the property was made economically feasible while protecting human health and the environment.


In April 2005, U.S. Cold Storage, a nationwide refrigeration company that stores and distributes frozen food, became the first business to open Bethlehem Commerce Center. The $14 million, 175,000-square-foot facility will expand to 625,000 square feet in futures phases of development. U.S. Cold Storage will invest $37 million in the project, which will create 90 jobs and $800,000 in annual property taxes.


In addition, a 4,200-foot Commerce Center Boulevard and 100-acre intermodal facility are completed and open for use. The new intermodal facility will replace and modernize two existing truck-to-rail operations and open up additional land for future development.


The Bethlehem Commerce Center also serves as a pioneer project as the first selection for the Governor’s innovative Brownfield Action Team initiative. BAT improves the state’s Land Recycling Program by expediting the assessment, planning and permitting process, or any additional measure necessary in order to advance the project. BAT projects typically get permitted in half the usual time.


The success of this innovative community project also contributed to an historic agreement in 2004 between DEP and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to make the commonwealth’s Land Recycling Program the first and only in the nation to serve as a “one-stop shop” for state and federal standards guiding the cleanup of brownfield sites. The memorandum clarifies that sites remediated under the state’s brownfields program also satisfy requirements for three key federal environmental cleanup laws.


“Pennsylvania has always been a place for innovation,” McGinty said. “Our businesses are showing that environmental stewardship is not only possible, but profitable as well.”


The Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence honors Pennsylvania businesses and organizations that put in place projects that take on environmental problems in ways that build new businesses, enhance the bottom line and engage residents in a renewed commitment to investing in their communities.


Winners of the 2005 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence receive a commemorative plaque and outdoor flag to acknowledge their commitment to environmental quality. Each recipient will be presented with these exclusive awards during individual press events at the winner’s location.


Aside from Lehigh Valley Industrial Park Inc., the other 11 winners of the 2005 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence include:


· Southern York County Library, Shrewsbury, York County: The library employed several green building technologies to achieve a 35 percent reduction in overall energy use, with $4,475 in energy savings projected annually. The project was awarded the NC 2.1 certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, making it the first library project in the state to be so honored.


· CENTRIA, Ambridge, Beaver County: CENTRIA performed an oven and line speed upgrade at its facility, increasing the throughput of the Ambridge paint line and minimizing the use and expense of natural gas. Gas savings as a result of these upgrades are expected to range from $600,000 to $800,000 per year.


· Exhibit Place Inc., McKees Rocks, Allegheny County: This small business realizes savings of about $12,800 per year in energy costs through energy efficiency improvements made to their new facility. With these upgrades, Exhibit Place was able to expand their business while achieving a 40 percent energy cost reduction.


· Loyalhanna Watershed Association, Ligonier, Westmoreland County: This group’s e-cycling program began in an effort to create a recycling program that would greatly benefit the environment and provide a convenient location for the community to dispose of small household, office and computer items free of charge. The e-cycling program is now one of just 13 in the commonwealth, and the only one run by a private organization. As of last fall, the program was one of only four free permanent electronics recycling centers in the state.


· Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., East Earl, Lancaster County: In 2004, Conestoga created an Environmental and Community Outreach Team to extend their environmental efforts into the community. Through programs like the Conestoga Urban Forestry Initiative, sponsorship of environmental field trips for local schools and a new summer camp program, Conestoga is engaging the next generation of environmental stewards.


· Granger Energy of Honey Brook LLC, Caernarvon Township, Lancaster County: The Lanchester Landfill Gas Utilization Project is the first multiple customer landfill gas-to-energy project in Pennsylvania. Landfill gas is transported underground from the landfill for 13 miles to multiple customers, making it the longest landfill gas pipeline in the United States. Enough landfill gas will be used annually to save 122,800 barrels of oil, offset the use of 250 railcars of coal, provide greenhouse gas reduction benefits equal to planting 15,600 acres of forest, remove emissions of 11,550 cars or heat 33,900 homes.


· Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development LLC, Lower Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County: Through installation of a “zero” discharge cooling tower water treatment system, Johnson & Johnson achieved a water use and corresponding wastewater discharge reduction of 4.8 million gallons per year, resulting in a cost savings of $29,472 annually. This avoidance also reduces the burden on the local water authority and publicly owned treatment works.


· Wirerope Works Inc., Williamsport, Lycoming County: The company installed a combination of technologies successfully eliminating 27,000 pounds of lead pollution annually from their manufacturing process, and recycled more than 80,000 pounds of lead that was used in the old process, helping to fund the change. In addition, more than $50,000 annually is avoided in maintenance costs with the new process.


· Cranberry Township, Cranberry Township, Butler County: The township developed the Collection Connection, a comprehensive municipal waste management program that addresses the changing needs of its community. The Collection Connection includes fully automated collection, enabling fewer vehicles to service more homes in a shorter time; single-stream recycling, allowing storage and collection of all recyclables in one container; a pay-as-you-throw variable rate disposal/collection system; and year-round curbside yard waste collection for composting.


· Scrubgrass Generating Co., Kennerdell, Venango County: The Benjamin No. 6 Reclamation project transformed a formerly abandoned mine land into a environmentally viable landscape capable of supporting diverse vegetation, wildlife and aquatic species. Approximately 445,450 tons of coal refuse was removed from the site, and the entire 59 acres has been completed and revegetated, improving overall water quality, decreasing metal loading and stopping erosion and sedimentation runoff.


· PhillyCarShare, Philadelphia: PhillyCarShare is the first system worldwide in which government employees and local residents share vehicles by the hour in a major car-reduction effort. The project has replaced 330 municipal vehicles, saving the city $2 million annually, and residential members have sold or avoided the purchase of roughly 1,200 vehicles and saved about $5.5 million annually versus car ownership.


DEP received 78 applications for the 2005 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The applications were evaluated according to the following criteria: overall environmental benefit, public service, economic impact, use of innovative technology, teamwork and environmental education and outreach.


To view a more detailed summary of the 12 winning projects, visit the department’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on “2005 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.”

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/11/2006

CONTACT:
Ron Ruman
Phone: (717) 787-1323


DEP ISSUES DROUGHT WATCH FOR ENTIRE STATE
Lack of Rainfall Leads to Call for Voluntary Water Use Reduction


HARRISBURG -- Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty today put all 67 Pennsylvania counties under a drought watch and called on residents to voluntarily reduce water use by 5 percent.
“Despite recent rainfall, precipitation levels over the last two months are below normal in every corner of the commonwealth,” McGinty said. “Two-thirds of our counties are 50 percent or more below their normal precipitation levels. The remaining counties are reporting a deficit of at least 25 percent.

“Although conservation is a year-round responsibility, now is the time for residents to manage water resources even more carefully to avoid serious problems if precipitation levels do not return to normal in the coming weeks,” McGinty said.

In addition to below normal precipitation, groundwater and surface water levels are low in many regions of the state. Even in areas with normal or near-normal groundwater and surface water levels, those levels are declining rapidly.

The Susquehanna River is 65 percent below its normal flow. Several streams and rivers recently posted record low flows for this time of year, including: Loyalhanna Creek, Westmoreland County; the Clarion River, Clarion County; Dyberry Creek, Wayne County; the Schuylkill River, Schuylkill County; Muncy Creek, Sullivan County; and Conodoguinet Creek, Cumberland County.

Public water suppliers, businesses and industries should monitor supplies during this drought watch period. Water-intensive commercial users should try to conserve water.

A drought watch is the lowest of three levels of drought status, asking for a 5 percent reduction in water use by residents. The next stage, a drought warning, calls for a voluntary reduction of 10 percent to 15 percent. A drought emergency, the final stage, includes mandatory water use reductions of at least 15 percent. Pennsylvania’s last declared drought emergency was in 2002.

All 67 Pennsylvania counties have been in normal status since seven counties on the western edge of Pennsylvania were upgraded from a drought watch to normal on June 18, 2003. With that upgrade, it was the first time since Aug. 8, 2001, that the entire state was normal.

“There are actions that all of us can take to reduce our daily water use in and around our homes,” McGinty said. “Not only will these actions conserve water, but they also will help families save money.”

Indoor water-conservation tips include:

· Using washing machines and dishwashers only when loads are full.


· Not running water continuously while shaving, brushing teeth or washing dishes by hand.


· Refrigerating tap water to avoid running the faucet waiting for cold water.


· Taking shorter showers.


· Installing new shower heads and sink faucets equipped with water-saving devices, such as aerators or spray taps.


· Repairing leaking and dripping faucets and leaking toilets.


· Replacing older toilets with newer, low-consumption toilets.


Outdoor water-conservation tips include:

· Holding back from watering lawns, unless newly seeded (grass often goes dormant --- it does not die --- during dry conditions).


· Limiting vehicle washing.


· Sweeping sidewalks and driveways, rather than washing them.


Pennsylvania’s Drought Task Force will meet Friday, April 14 to review the current precipitation numbers and overall status of surface water and groundwater resources.

More information on drought conditions, as well as real-time monitoring of drought indicators, is available on DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Drought.”

###

EDITOR’S NOTE: Attached is a list of Pennsylvania counties and the departure from normal precipitation level for each county over the past 60 days. The departure includes the deficit in inches and a percentage from what is normal for this time of year:


Adams -4.6 inches (51-75%)

Allegheny -3.0 inches (26-50%)

Armstrong -2.8 inches (26-50%)

Beaver -2.5 inches (26-50%)

Bedford -4.2 inches (51-75%)

Berks -4.4 inches (51-75%)

Blair -4.2 inches (51-75%)

Bradford -3.0 inches (51-75%)

Bucks -3.9 inches (51-75%)

Butler -2.6 inches (26-50%)

Cambria -3.5 inches (26-50%)

Cameron -3.0 inches (26-50%)

Carbon -4.1 inches (51-75%)

Centre -3.6 inches (51-75%)

Chester -4.2 inches (51-75%)

Clarion -2.5 inches (26-50%)

Clearfield -2.9 inches (26-50%)

Clinton -3.5 inches (51-75%)

Columbia -3.6 inches (51-75%)

Crawford -2.9 inches (26-50%)

Cumberland -4.2 inches (51-75%)

Dauphin -3.6 inches (51-75%)

Delaware -3.9 inches (51-75%)

Elk -2.7 inches (26-50%)

Erie -2.0 inches (26-50%)

Fayette -3.0 inches (26-50%)

Forest -2.6 inches (26-50%)

Franklin -4.5 inches (51-75%)

Fulton -4.2 inches (51-75%)

Greene -3.2 inches (51-75%)

Huntingdon -4.1 inches (51-75%)

Indiana -3.2 inches (26-50%)

Jefferson -2.3 inches (26-50%)

Juniata -4.3 inches (51-75%)

Lackawanna -2.9 inches (26-50%)

Lancaster -3.3 inches (51-75%)

Lawrence -2.3 inches (26-50%)

Lebanon -3.8 inches (51-75%)

Lehigh -4.6 inches (51-75%)

Luzerne -3.2 inches (51-75%)

Lycoming -4.1 inches (51-75%)

McKean -2.6 inches (26-50%)

Mercer -3.0 inches (26-50%)

Mifflin -4.1 inches (51-75%)

Monroe -4.0 inches (51-75%)

Montgomery -4.2 inches (51-75%)

Montour -3.9 inches (51-75%)

Northampton -4.0 inches (51-75%)

Northumberland -3.7 inches (51-75%)

Perry -4.3 inches (51-75%)

Philadelphia -3.9 inches (51-75%)

Pike -3.9 inches (51-75%)

Potter -2.4 inches (26-50%)

Schuylkill -4.4 inches (51-75%)

Snyder -4.2 inches (51-75%)

Somerset -3.9 inches (51-75%)

Sullivan -4.3 inches (51-75%)

Susquehanna -3.7 inches (51-75%)

Tioga -2.8 inches (51-75%)

Union -4.3 inches (51-75%)

Venango -2.4 inches (26-50%)

Warren -2.1 inches (26-50%)

Washington -3.0 inches (26-50%)

Wayne -3.8 inches (51-75%)

Westmoreland -2.5 inches (26-50%)

Wyoming -4.3 inches (51-75%)

York -3.6 inches (51-75%)

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


Office of the Governor
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Governor’s Press Office
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/7/2006

CONTACT:
Kate Philips
Phone: 717-783-1116
Charlie Young, DEP
Phone: 717-787-1323


GOVERNOR RENDELL MAKING SMALL WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS AVAILABLE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
15 Small-Scale Systems to Place Alternative Energy Source in Public View


HARRISBURG -- The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority is looking for a few good municipalities, public authorities and school districts to generate a buzz about alternative energy.

Brought back to life by Governor Edward G. Rendell after years of inactivity, PEDA recently awarded a $193,000 grant to Southwest Windpower to place 15 small, advanced technology wind turbines in highly-visible locations across the state.


Each of the turbines will generate enough electricity to power a typical residence -- and get people thinking about adopting alternative energy sources in their homes and businesses.


“The price of imported fuel is too high in terms of dollars and security,” Governor Rendell said. “To become energy independent ourselves, Pennsylvania is blazing a new trail by making strategic investments to build a base of alternative energy supplies and infrastructure that can meet the clean energy needs of our residents and our economy.


“By placing these windmills in where many people can see them, Pennsylvanians will be able to learn about and experience alternative energy as part of their daily lives.”


PEDA and Southwest Windpower, the world’s largest producer of small wind turbines, are inviting Pennsylvania municipalities, public authorities and school districts to apply to participate in the PEDA Small-Scale Community Wind Project.


Successful applicants will receive one of the Southwest Windpower small-scale wind systems and basic installation at no charge. Recipients must pay the fee to connect to the grid, as well as any cost above basic installation (for example, if special ground work is needed to prepare the site). The recipients also will provide public outreach and education.


The wind energy systems will be mounted in the ground on 35-foot towers and generate 1.8 kilowatts of electricity each, enough to meet the needs of a typical home. The units are valued at $10,000 each. SunLion Solar Inc. of Leacock Township, Lancaster County, will install some of the systems.


Applications must be submitted to PEDA no later than May 12. PEDA and Southwest Windpower will review the applications and make the selections.


“Pennsylvania already is a wind energy leader on the East Coast for its utility-scale production, and its growth potential is significant,” Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. “PEDA’s Small-Scale Community Wind Project is an outstanding opportunity to bring energy diversity off the mountain tops and into our daily lives.”


A key part of Governor Rendell’s alternative energy strategy is to position Pennsylvania as a leading manufacturing center of advanced energy technologies. The state’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard will create the demand for more than 3,000 megawatts of wind energy over the next 15 years.


Governor Rendell also personally led the campaign to land the Spanish wind-energy company Gamesa Corp., the second largest wind energy company in the world, beating out many other vying states. With its U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia and manufacturing facilities in Bucks and Cambria counties, Gamesa represents an $84 million investment in the state that will create as many as 1,000 jobs over five years.


“Energy will be one of the defining challenges of our generation, but we can make this challenge an opportunity to reduce our dependence on imported energy and create significant economic benefits for our local and regional economies,” Governor Rendell said. “Instead of spending our energy dollars overseas, we will invest at home and put Pennsylvanians to work.”


PEDA is just one of the initiatives Governor Rendell has launched to build a clean energy future in Pennsylvania. PEDA has awarded $15 million in grants and loans for 41 clean energy projects that will leverage another $200 million in private investment. The projects will create 1,558 permanent and construction jobs. In addition, the research projects, if successful, could net as many as 327 full-time jobs.


The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program funds advanced and renewable energy projects that use biomass, wind, solar, small-scale hydroelectric, landfill methane, energy efficiency, coal-bed methane and waste coal. Launched by Governor Rendell in the very first months of his administration, Energy Harvest has awarded $15.9 million and leveraged another $43.7 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003.


Pennsylvania’s clean energy laws also ensure wide distribution and use of zero-pollution solar power. The state is investing in several startup solar companies and working to bring these solar plants on line with new rules that require power companies to pay market rate for solar energy and forbid utilities from prohibiting solar and other distributed renewable energy plants from tying into the grid.


The nation’s very first coal gasification-liquefaction plant is being built in Schuylkill County. Construction of Waste Management and Processors Inc.’s waste-coal-to-diesel plant will create as many as 1,000 jobs; operating the plant will produce another 600 permanent, high-paying positions. The plant will clean up tens-of-millions of tons of waste coal while providing clean diesel at a fraction of the price paid today.


Not only do indigenous energy sources grow the economy, they also promise greater energy independence. With $219,908 in state aid, the east coast’s first state-of-the-art biofuels-injection facility opened last fall in Dauphin County. The plant will replace 3.2 million gallons of foreign oil with domestically produced biodiesel, and it will keep $6 million worth of energy dollars in Pennsylvania by reducing the state’s need to purchase imported fuels.


Pennsylvania was recognized for its national energy leadership in working to put landfill gas to work for the economy. Granger Energy’s Lanchester Landfill project, which received a $235,000 state grant, supplies treated gas to several companies to use in place of natural gas in boilers and processes, displacing their reliance on natural gas. Putting this resource to use means a clean, cheap energy supply that businesses can use to keep jobs in Pennsylvania.


For more information on PEDA or to download an application for the Small-Scale Community Wind Project, visit DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA).”

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
4/5/2006

CONTACT:
Kurt Knaus
Phone: (717) 787-1323


GOVERNOR RENDELL’S CLEAN ENERGY INIATIVES SHOWCASED AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE



HARRISBURG -- For the second time in a little more than six months, Governor Edward G. Rendell’s successful and visionary leadership in building a clean energy future has been showcased at an international conference examining new business strategies and technologies that aim to improve environments and economies worldwide.
Receiving awards at the ceremony, where Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty delivered the keynote address, were Queen Rania Al-Yasin of Jordan, U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Amnesty International Leadership Co-chairman Kerry Kennedy. Others recognized for their humanitarian efforts included Yoko Ono, model Karolina Kurkova, actor Angelina Jolie and musician Shakira.

“Advanced energy technology is about achieving both environmental protection and economic development -- at the same time,” McGinty said. “In Pennsylvania, we are powering our economy and empowering our residents by investing in a clean energy future.”

McGinty outlined Pennsylvania’s energy initiatives before the array of distinguished and dedicated leaders Monday night at the United Nations in New York City.

The conference featured world economic and environmental leaders, national and international film, arts and fashion representatives, and human rights activists who are working to provide aid to poverty-stricken areas and developing countries.

The event promotes sustainable economies that ensure freedom and opportunities for citizens and helps to preserve natural resources.

“Governor Rendell is leading the way to build and deploy clean energy technologies and this international conference gave us yet another chance to tell our story to leaders from around the globe,” McGinty said.

The Governor’s efforts have received widespread recognition.

In September, Governor Rendell’s clean energy initiatives were highlighted as part of former President Bill Clinton’s inaugural meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, a three-day event concentrating a diverse and select group of current and former heads of state, business leaders, academicians and key nongovernmental organization representatives from around the world to improve the environment and economy through clean energy.

Governor Rendell also outlined Pennsylvania’s clean energy plan during a speech in December before the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where he called for a massive national commitment to alternative energy. His “American Energy Harvest” initiative harnesses the power of renewable energy and strengthens economies by reducing dependence on foreign energy imports.

The Governor has launched some major plans to build a clean energy future in Pennsylvania. The commonwealth is home to one of the nation’s most progressive alternative energy portfolio standards and ensure that 18 percent of all energy generated comes from clean, efficient sources by 2020. Benefits of the policy include $10 billion in increased output for the commonwealth, $3 billion in additional earnings and as many as 4,000 news jobs for residents over the next 20 years.

Brought back to life by Governor Rendell after years of inactivity, the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority has awarded $15 million in grants and loans for 41 clean energy projects that will leverage another $200 million in private investment. The projects will create 1,558 permanent and construction jobs. In addition, the research projects, if successful, could net as many as 327 full-time jobs.

The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program funds advanced and renewable energy projects that use biomass, wind, solar, small-scale hydroelectric, landfill methane, energy efficiency, coal-bed methane and waste coal. Launched by Governor Rendell in the very first months of his administration, Energy Harvest has awarded $15.9 million and leveraged another $43.7 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003.

The commonwealth remains a leader in wind production east of the Mississippi, providing enough clean energy to power some 70,000 homes. Governor Rendell personally led a campaign to land the Spanish wind-energy company Gamesa Corp., the second largest wind energy company in the world, beating out many other vying states. With its U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia and manufacturing facilities in Cambria and Bucks counties, Gamesa represents an $84 million investment in the state that will create as many as 1,000 jobs over the next several years.

Pennsylvania’s clean energy laws also ensure wide distribution and use of zero-pollution solar power. The state is investing in several startup solar companies and working to bring these solar plants on line with new rules that require power companies to pay market rate for solar energy and forbid utilities from prohibiting solar and other distributed renewable energy plants from tying into the grid.

The nation’s very first coal gasification-liquefaction plant is being built in Schuylkill County. Construction of Waste Management and Processors Inc.’s waste-coal-to-diesel plant will create as many as 1,000 jobs; operating the plant will produce another 600 permanent, high-paying positions. The plant will clean up tens-of-millions of tons of waste coal while providing clean diesel at a fraction of the price we pay today.

Not only do indigenous energy sources help us grow our economy, they also promise greater energy independence. With $219,908 in state aid, the East Coast’s first state-of-the-art biofuels-injection facility opened last fall in Dauphin County. The plant will replace 3.2 million gallons of foreign oil with domestically-produced biodiesel, and it will keep $6 million worth of energy dollars in Pennsylvania by reducing the state’s need to purchase imported fuels.

Pennsylvania recently was recognized for its national energy leadership in working to put landfill gas to work for the economy. Granger Energy’s Lanchester Landfill project, which received a $235,000 state grant, supplies treated gas to several companies to use in place of natural gas in boilers and processes, displacing their reliance on natural gas. Putting this resource to use to power our economy gives us a clean, cheap energy supply that our businesses can use to keep jobs in Pennsylvania.

“Our commonwealth continues to be an innovator when it comes to building and deploying a diverse array of advanced energy technologies,” McGinty said. “Fostering the development of alternative energy sources has given Pennsylvania a commanding edge in the renewable energy market, allowing for more opportunities in technology development and job creation.”

For more information about Governor Rendell’s effort to advance clean energy initiatives in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s Web site at www.dep.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Energy.”

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Office of the Govenor
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/20/2006

CONTACT:
Kate Phillips
Phone: (717) 787-1323


PENNSYLVANIA INVESTMENTS EARNING ENERGY STARS FOR COMMONWEALTH SCHOOLS



HARRISBURG -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today said Pennsylvania is partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® program to significantly improve the energy efficiency of school buildings, especially existing buildings and additions.

“Pennsylvania is a national leader in green buildings, and our investments in green building practices for schools will provide substantial financial savings for taxpayers, better learning environments for students and greater environmental protection for all Pennsylvanians,” Governor Rendell said.


The state departments of Environmental Protection and Education, along with EPA, are urging Pennsylvania school districts to commit themselves to improving their energy efficiency through ENERGY STAR®, a federal program helping schools, businesses and consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.


ENERGY STAR® offers free Web tools and resources for identifying energy reduction opportunities and developing energy management strategies. Schools that improve their energy efficiency may qualify to earn the ENERGY STAR® building label based on EPA’s Energy Performance Rating System.


“Energy conservation and maximizing efficiency are critical to reducing our dependence of imported fuels and protecting our environment,” DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. “By making these powerful tools available to Pennsylvania schools, we will be preserving our financial and natural resources at the same time we are teaching the next generation of Pennsylvanians about the importance of energy conservation.”


Currently, Pennsylvania has 73 ENERGY STAR®-qualified buildings, including 12 school buildings, and the state’s ENERGY STAR® buildings represent approximately 10 million square feet of space. They save an estimated $32 million annually in energy bills, while meeting industry standards for indoor air quality. The buildings also prevent 122 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions from more than 37,000 vehicles.


Education Secretary Gerald L. Zahorchak said energy costs are second only to labor costs for most school districts.


“This winter, districts have been seeing high energy prices that are likely to continue into the foreseeable future,” Zahorchak said. “Maximizing resources is critical for all school districts. School districts that invest in energy efficient upgrades now will save money on an ongoing basis.”


Pennsylvania’s green building program has invested significant resources through increased reimbursements to school districts as incentives to build or renovate schools at the silver, gold and platinum levels of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. Planning grants have been used to facilitate the transition to more energy-efficient buildings.


“The majority of state funds for school construction go to addition and renovation projects instead of new construction,” Zahorchak said. “The partnership between Pennsylvania and ENERGY STAR® will leverage those investments to provide the best educational environment possible.”


As a starting point in the energy management process, ENERGY STAR’s® portfolio manager can benchmark and track energy consumption in all of a district’s buildings. The Web tool can show monthly savings by improving energy performance. It can also track cost savings, energy-use reductions and environmental impacts after building upgrades are made.


“By using these tools and resources, schools can make low-cost and no-cost energy efficiency improvements that do not compromise comfort,” said Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region. “Pennsylvania is to be commended for its environmental leadership.”


For more information, visit DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword “Green Buildings,” or the ENERGY STAR® Web page at www.energystar.gov.

School facility managers interested in making their schools more energy efficient and earning the ENERGY STAR® rating should contact Mark Hand, DEP’s Energy Star program manager at 717-787-9377, or Mindee Osno, EPA’s regional ENERGY STAR® program manager at 215-814-2074.

N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA


COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3/13/2006

CONTACT:
Charlie Young
Phone: (717) 787-1323


DEP OFFERS STATEWIDE WORKSHOPS TO HELP BUSINESS OWNERS CUT ENERGY COSTS
Making Environmental Protection a Tool for Economic Development


HARRISBURG – The Department of Environmental Protection will provide half-day workshops this spring to help owners of small and medium-sized businesses in Pennsylvania reduce energy costs and increase profits.
“Small and medium-sized businesses have little room in their budgets for increased expenses,” DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. “With recent record-high oil and natural gas prices, we want to make sure Pennsylvania businesses take advantage of every opportunity to conserve energy, save money and remain competitive.”

DEP’s Office of the Small Business Ombudsman is partnering with the Electrotechnology Application Center at Northampton Community College’s Center for Business and Industry to provide the energy management workshops.

Each workshop will offer business owners information on energy supply options, illustrate how to identify energy cost-saving opportunities and explain how to initiate an energy management program. Particular emphasis will be given to easily implemented, cost-effective changes for small commercial and industrial facilities.

Registration for the workshops is free, and the sessions are open to the general public. Local government officials also are encouraged to attend.

The workshops will be held on the following dates at these locations:

· April 18 at DEP’s Southeast Regional Office, 2 E. Main St., Norristown, Montgomery County.


· April 25 at ETAC (Northampton Community College), 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, Northampton County.


· May 2 at DEP’s Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, Dauphin County.


· May 9 at DEP’s Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Dr., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County.


· May 11 at the North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission, 651 Montmorenci Road, Ridgway, Elk County.


“These workshops will demonstrate to small business owners how to implement measures that can reduce energy usage at their business, save on energy costs, improve the environment and boost their bottom lines,” McGinty said.

DEP’s Office of the Small Business Ombudsman provides assistance to small businesses needing help with environmental issues and helps owners realize the potential cost savings of pollution prevention and energy conservation strategies.

ETAC manufacturers evaluate and integrate electrotechnologies that will increase productivity, minimize environmental impact and improve energy efficiencies.

Funding for the Energy Management Workshops is provided through a U.S. Department of Energy grant.

For more information or to request a registration form, contact DEP at 717-783-8411 or visit DEP’s Web site at www.depweb.state.pa.us, Keyword: “Ombudsman.�