Energy Harvest, AFIG Grant Recipients Announced
ENERGY HARVEST

Energy Harvest promotes awareness and builds markets for cleaner or renewable energy technologies. Since Governor Rendell originated the program in 2003, Energy Harvest has invested nearly $33.5 million and leveraged $109.7 million in private investment commitments.

The programs are an integral part of Governor Rendell’s strategy to pursue Pennsylvania’s energy independence. Last year, the commonwealth built on its commitment to developing advanced energy resources and using energy more efficiently by enacting many parts of the Governor’s Energy Independence Strategy, including the $650 million Alternative Energy Investment Fund, a biofuel mandate and incentive program that will help add 1 billion gallons of home grown alternative fuels to the state’s transportation supply, one of the most ambitious energy conservation mandates in the country, and a plan to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Bedford County

Community Foundation for the Alleghenies -- $199,191 for the renovation of the Whispering Creek Renewable Energy Center environmental education facility to demonstrate the benefits of renewable energy generation and energy-efficient upgrades to an existing structure. The learning center will provide a location for hands-on demonstrations of wind, solar, biodiesel and geothermal technologies. It will also generate 5 permanent full-time jobs.

Berks County

Berks County Community Foundation -- $500,000 to incorporate energy-efficient technologies into the county's first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified meeting facility. The project includes a rainwater collection cistern, radiant cooling and heating, an energy-saving elevator, natural roof covering, solar shading, bio-based insulation, insulated precast foundation walls and insulated wall and roof panels. The project will also be constructed on a redeveloped section of a blighted area. The project will create two full-time and two part-time jobs.

Blair County

Southern Alleghenies Conservancy Inc. -- $480,479 on behalf of Pleasant View Farms, for an anaerobic digester and electricity generation system. The system is expected to replace all of the farm's current annual electricity consumption and generate more than $86,000 per year from the sale of excess electricity.

Cambria County

Glendale School District -- $350,000 for a biomass-fired boiler system that will be part of an expanded, system-wide set of improvements through energy service performance contracting. The made-in-Pennsylvania boiler will displace 45,800 gallons of #2 fuel oil per year, saving the district $123,000 annually.

Carbon County

Carbon County Redevelopment Authority -- $500,000 for a 10-megawatt solar energy system on 100 acres of blighted land to be developed by Green Energy Capital Partners LLC. The project will create three permanent jobs and 65 temporary jobs. The array will offset more than 5,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year from fossil-fueled power plants.

Chester County

West Chester University -- $252,840 to provide additional geothermal wells to an existing heating efficiency upgrade at West Chester State University. The project is anticipated to save 203,541 kilowatt hours of electricity and 16,008 million cubic feet of natural gas per year, saving $210,850 and avoiding emissions of 1,170 tons of carbon dioxide.

Delaware County

Township of Springfield -- $97,500 for a 25.2 kilowatt, grid-tied solar energy system on the township building and library. The project is projected to generate 30,905 kilowatt hours per year, saving $3,325 in electric costs and avoiding air pollution associated with smog and climate change.

Erie County

School District of the City of Erie -- $112,778 for a 10-kilowatt solar energy system. The project will save $1,086 annually and avoid air pollution associated with smog and climate change.

Edinboro University Foundation -- $500,000 for a geothermal heating and cooling system in a student housing project. The housing unit is designed to achieve LEED certification and is expected to save more than 1.2 million kilowatt hours per year at a cost savings of more than $100,000. Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by more than 785 tons annually and almost 2 million gallons of water will be diverted each year by not using cooling tower technologies.

Indiana County

Indiana County Conservation District -- $46,950 to increase the generation capacity of the Brookside Dairy anaerobic digester from 80 kilowatts to 107 kW. The existing engine will be turbocharged to increase generation capacity by 30 percent and utilize the excess biogas produced.

Lackawanna County

Lackawanna River Basin Sewer Authority -- $397,961 for two 65 kilowatt microturbines to generate electricity from unused anaerobic digester gas at a wastewater treatment plant. The microturbines are expected to generate more than 1 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year and save the authority $130,497 per year in electricity and natural gas costs.

Lancaster County

Lancaster Family YMCA -- $500,000 for the costs of designing and constructing a new facility to achieve LEED certification at the silver level. It is estimated that incorporating LEED design elements will lower electricity consumption by 450,000 kilowatt hours per year and save 2 million cubic feet of natural gas annually.

Lancaster County Career Technology Center -- $91,100 for installation of energy efficient and renewable energy systems in a green home built by high school students with oversight and instruction of the faculty. The home's energy generation and conservation is expected to save $1,800 per year and reduce air pollution.

Susquehanna Fire & Rescue Co. No. 4 -- $226,310 for a solar energy system that is expected to generate 37,481 kilowatt hours of electricity per year and avoid air emissions associated with smog and climate change.

Luzerne County

Housing Authority of Luzerne County -- $119,020 for a solar water heating system for an independent living facility for low-income senior residents. The project will save the
facility $3,600 annually and replace the equivalent of 35,922 kilowatt hours of electricity and conserve 174,300 gallons of water annually.

Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future -- $300,000 to supplement a previous grant for the design and installation of a single 600 kW wind turbine at the Hazleton Authority Water Department. This would be the first community-scale wind project deployed in Pennsylvania. The project is expected to produce more than 1.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, and displace air and water pollution, including 960 tons per year of carbon dioxide. The system will be purchased and operated by Iberdrola Renewables, and will save the water authority $393,585 over 20 years by providing them with a highly favorable cost of power.

Lycoming County

East Lycoming School District -- $338,230 for an automatic temperature control system, lighting retrofits, a 2.2 kilowatt solar energy system and two small wind turbines on various school buildings. The energy conservation and renewable energy generation is expected to save $13,701 per year and avoid air emissions associated with smog and climate change.

Monroe County

Northampton Community College -- $500,000 to incorporate a geothermal heating system, wind turbine and solar energy equipment for the buildings at a new branch campus. The project will educate students, faculty and visitors to the benefits of energy efficiency and distributed power via digital information systems in each of the buildings. Project is expected to save 214,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and 59,000 gallons of heating oil annually at a savings of $174,000. The project will avoid 588 tons of carbon dioxide and conserve 900,000 gallons of water annually.

Snyder County

Snyder County Conservation District -- $61,356 on behalf of Windview Farm for a manure combustion hot water boiler to heat poultry barns. The project will reduce the amount of manure that is land-applied by approximately 500 tons annually, resulting in better nutrient management and reduction of phosphorous into the Chesapeake Bay watershed by 17.85 tons annually. The project will save the farm approximately $30,000 in annual fuel costs.

Tioga County

Babb Creek Watershed Association, Inc. -- $428,710 for a 53 kilowatt microhydro turbine on the discharge side of the Antrim acid mine drainage treatment plant. Expected generation is 460,000 kilowatt hours per year. The Antrim treatment plant will receive a large portion of the power, saving it $9,400 annually, with excess to be sold, generating $17,300 annually. The plant treats 1,800 gallons per minute of acidic mine drainage, one of the state’s most difficult environmental challenges.

Washington County

Pennsylvania Trolley Museum Inc. -- $271,391 to install 36 kilowatt solar energy system. The system is expected to produce 44,150 kilowatt hours of electricity annually, avoid air pollution associated with smog and climate change, and conserve approximately 214,200 gallons of water.

Westmoreland County

Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County -- $232,500 for a 30 kilowatt hydro turbine and generator at the Beaver Run release. The project will save approximately 262,800 kilowatt hours of electricity, saving $32,800 annually and reducing air emissions associated with smog and climate change.

Loyalhanna Watershed Association Inc. -- $128,266 for a microhydro turbine and generator to power an acid mine drainage treatment system and lighting at the Latrobe wastewater treatment plant. It will enable a pilot treatment plant to remove 10-15 tons of iron oxide sludge per year and save more than 16,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

York County

York City School District -- $500,000 for the renovation of Ferguson Elementary School to achieve LEED certification at the gold level. Innovative technologies include geoexchange systems, day lighting and water-saving features. The project will save $162,934 in electricity costs annually and avoid 1,775 tons of carbon dioxide.

Multiple counties

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