Pa. announces another $5M in clean-energy projects

Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell announced the award Wednesday of $5.1 million to support 27 clean-energy projects in the state.

The grants, through the state Energy Harvest Grant Program, are expected to leverage another $8.2 million in private funds. The program has awarded a total of $21 million in grants, which leveraged $51.9 million in private funds, since being launched by the governor in May 2003.

The grants support projects that advance the deployment of clean-energy technologies -- such as solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, biodigestion and landfill methane gas -- and reduce air and water pollution and dependence on foreign fuels.

Locally, grants were awarded in the following counties:

Chester:

West Chester University of Pennsylvania -- $248,458 for a ground-source (geothermal) heat-pump heating and cooling system for a 50,000-square-foot building renovation.

Delaware:

Media -- $77,000 for solar photovoltaic systems at public facilities throughout Media, allowing the borough to increase its solar energy production from 25 to 40 kilowatts.

Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia in Aston -- $42,000 for a 9.89-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system to help produce vegetables for 115 families. The energy will keep food fresh, pump irrigation water and power a deer fence.

Pennsylvania Resources Council Inc. -- $18,870 for a five-kilowatt solar photovoltaic installation for its Living Demo Center.

Montgomery:

Abington Friends School -- $43,000 for a solar photovoltaic system and a related energy conservation program. The solar system is expected to produce 6,200 kilowatt hours of electricity, which will be "matched" with an equivalent amount of energy savings through measures such as reducing lighting. The program will give teachers and students practical and tangible applications of renewable energy and environmental education, as well as reducing air pollution.

School District of Jenkintown -- $49,752 for a 9.89-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system to help power an elementary, middle and high school. A portion of the energy savings will be used to purchase 14,400 kilowatt hours of annual wind energy credits. The district's Heliotronics solar learning lab will educate about 400 students

Philadelphia:

Wissahickon Charter School -- $51,144 for a solar photovoltaic system to generate 6,260 kilowatt hours of electricity annually and educational opportunities for students and the community.

Energy Coordinating Agency -- $118,000 for the incremental cost difference between standard building code homes and energy-saving standards houses. The agency expects to save 350,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and reduce air pollution and solid waste, by implementing the energy-saving standards on 131 residential units in Philadelphia.