By Greentech Lead America: Pennsylvania recently
invested more than $15.9 million in 10 clean, alternative and renewable energy
sources projects in 10 counties. With these investments the state is expanding
its commitment to advance clean, alternative and renewable energy sources.
The investment is expected to create 356 jobs over the next three
years.
“These state investments can help families,
businesses and municipalities save collectively on their utility costs. In
addition, these new projects, which are large and small, urban and rural, are
creating additional private economic investment in the commonwealth and
creating jobs statewide,” said C. Alan Walker, the secretary of Community
and Economic Development.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) has approved
10 projects, through the state’s Alternative and Clean Energy Program that will
result in $247,197 in annual energy savings. The electric generation could
power at least 7,300 homes.
Projects were approved in Blair, Bucks, Carbon,
Cumberland, Franklin, Mifflin, Northampton, Schuylkill, Washington and Wyoming
counties. The state investments are expected to result in more than $184.7
million in additional private economic investments.
The state awarded a $5.5 million Alternative and Clean
Energy Program grant to Borough of Lehighton for the construction of a
hydroelectric plant at the Beltzville Lake Dam in Lehighton, Carbon County.
The 2.6 megawatt low-impact, hydroelectric plant is being
developed as public-private partnership between the Borough of Lehighton and
Summit Water Nexus LLC. The $15.7 million project will create 9,470 megawatt
hours of energy annually for the next 75 to 100 years.
Carlisle Area School District will receive a $666,000
Alternative and Clean Energy Program grant to purchase and install a combined
heat and power (CHP) system at the district’s main campus located in Carlisle,
Cumberland County.
The new one-megawatt power system is expected to offset
all of the site’s annual electricity requirements. The CHP system is expected
to produce 6,570 megawatt hours of energy annually and offset 27,375 MMBTU’s of
thermal energy.