The Commonwealth Financing Authority approved the $3.28 million in investments at its monthly meeting today.
"We are continuing to help families, businesses, local communities, and school districts save money and become more energy efficient," Burke said. "Project by project, we are paving the way to a cleaner, stronger, more sustainable environment – one that will employ thousands of hardworking Pennsylvanians."
The CFA administers Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus programs, including portions of the $650 million Alternative Energy Investment Fund that Governor Rendell signed into law in 2008.
The eight alternative energy projects approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority are listed below:
Berks County
Randy and Marilyn Moses will receive an $8,000 renewable energy program loan to help with the installation of a $21,300 geothermal system in their Hereford Township home. The 3-ton, closed-loop geothermal heating and cooling system will replace the home’s electrical baseboard heating system, 10-year-old central AC system, and hot water heater. The homeowners expect to save 10,841 kWh per year, or $1,355.
Blair County
Chestnut Flats Wind LLC will receive a $1 million wind energy program grant for the development of an $80 million wind farm in Logan Township. The company, formed by Gamesa Technology Corporation Inc., will construct a 38 MW wind farm on the Chestnut Flats plateau that will deliver 115,000MWh of electricity, which is enough to power 11,000 average Pennsylvania homes.
Centre County
Penns Valley Area School District will receive an $868,959 alternative and clean energy program grant to help with the installation of a biomass boiler at schools in Penn Township. The boiler will provide low-cost renewable fuel heat for the high school, elementary school and maintenance building and will reduce conventional fuel oil and electric utilization by nearly 84,000 gallons and 400,000 kWh annually, which will reduce operating costs by more than $150,000 per year. The total project cost is $3.37 million.
Lancaster County
Quanta Technologies Inc. will receive a $585,298 alternative and clean energy program loan for the purchase of new manufacturing equipment at its facility in Lancaster. Quanta, a start-up company, will manufacture a storm window system that provides a cost effective way to insulate existing windows and be 30 percent cheaper than a replacement window. The new equipment will allow Quanta to produce 240,000 units annually and employ 60 employees within the first three years. The total project cost is $1.17 million.
Lawrence County
Human Services Center, a provider of mental health services, will receive a $67,506 alternative and clean energy program grant to help with the purchase of a 20kW wind turbine, lattice tower and monitoring system for its facility in Slippery Rock Township. The wind turbine will generate 15,550 kWh per year and reduce electrical energy use by 54 percent at the personal care home, and save $1,943. The total project cost is $135,047.
Philadelphia County
The Enterprise Center Community Development Corporation will receive a $135,000 renewable energy program loan to help with the installation of a geothermal system at a mixed-use building in West Philadelphia. The technology will have 30 wells and a heat pump to provide heating and cooling for the building. Its installation will help the building complex receive a high performance building certification. The total project cost for the geothermal system is $270,000.
York County
Green Valley Farm, a family owned and operated operation in East Hopewell Township, will receive a $119,875 renewable energy program grant to help with the installation of a 50 kW wind power system. The wind energy system will produce 120,000 kWh per year — roughly 80 percent of the farm’s electricity demands – and result in $15,000 in savings. The total project cost is $350,000.
Schuylkill County
Minersville Area School District, on behalf of Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29, will receive a $496,368 alternative and clean energy program loan to install a new HVAC system at its Norwegian Township site. The new system will annually save 154,770 kWh per year and $19,000. The total project cost is $996,368.
