DCED: Pennsylvania Invests $4.2 Million to Support Alternative, Clean and Renewable Energy Projects; Helps Businesses Meet Water Standards

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania is expanding its commitment to helping businesses meet water-quality standards with the investment of $4.2 million in grants and loans for 10 projects in six counties.

"The investments made today will go a long way in helping local farms and businesses reduce costs and be more environmentally friendly," Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker said. "These projects also will have a positive effect on the communities surrounding them by diverting waste from landfills to be used as organic fertilizers, and reducing the consumption of electricity from the power grid."

The Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) approved funding for 10 projects that will be used to purchase and install alternative energy solutions that will reduce costs, recycle waste and help Pennsylvania meet the Chesapeake Bay nutrient requirement.

The Alternative and Clean Energy program and the Renewable Energy program provides financial assistance in the form of grant and loan funds for alternative, clean and renewable energy projects in the commonwealth. The programs are administered jointly by the Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Environmental Protection, under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

For more information on state investment programs available through the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit www.newpa.com or call 1-866-466-3972.

Media contact: Theresa Elliott, DCED, 717-783-1132

Editor's Note: The projects approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority are listed below (potential costs savings are estimates calculated by DCED using standard industry methodology):  

Adams County
Twin Springs Fruit Farm will receive $326,273 in grants and loans from the Alternative and Clean Energy program for the purchase and installation of a replacement biomass boiler at their facility located in Franklin Township, Adams County. The new boiler will be fueled by 700 tons of wood waste and will supply 100-percent of the thermal heat needed by the farm's greenhouse and will reduce fossil fuel air emissions by 1.4 million pounds annually. The total project cost is $652,546.

Carbon County
The Service Team Inc. will receive a $150,000 Renewable Energy program grant for the purchase and installation of two 100 kW wind turbines at the Country Junction general store located in Towamensing Township, Carbon County. The wind turbines will produce a total of 378,432 kWh per year, offsetting 78-percent of the store's electricity usage.

Cumberland County
Hard Earned Acres, Inc. will receive $663,419 in grants and loans from the Alternative and Clean Energy program for the purchase and installation of an anaerobic digester that will produce biogas from manure and food waste to generate electricity at its dairy farm in Southampton Township, Cumberland County. The digester will provide annual energy production of 1,200,458 kWh, exceeding the farm's current electrical consumption by approximately 650,000 kWh. The total project cost is $1.3 million.

Juniata County
Reinford-Freymoyer, LLC will receive $698,585 in grants and loans from the Alternative and Clean Energy program for the purchase and installation of an anaerobic digester that will produce biogas from manure and food waste to provide electricity at its dairy farm in Walker Township, Juniata County. The digester will provide annual energy production of 1,552,452 kWh, exceeding the farm's current electrical consumption by approximately 14,000 kWh. The total project cost $1.3 million.

Lancaster County
Yippee Farms will receive $1.1 million in grants and loans from the Alternative and Clean Energy program for the purchase and installation of an anaerobic digester that will produce biogas from manure and food waste to generate electricity at its dairy farm in Rapho Township, Lancaster County.  The digester will provide annual energy production of 3,354,762 kWh, exceeding the farm's current electrical consumption of approximately 1,200,000 kWh. The total project cost is $2.2 million.

Philadelphia County
UO Real Estate, LLC will receive a $1.27 million Alternative and Clean Energy program grant for the purchase and installation of a fuel cell system at the facility located in Philadelphia. The 600 kW fuel cell system will produce electricity from natural gas and will produce an estimated 5,099,371 kWh annually, offsetting 50-percent of the facility's electricity consumption. The total project cost is $4.3 million.

Renewable Energy Loans – Four Counties
The Commonwealth Financing Authority board also approved $76,000 in Renewable Energy program loans for the purchase and installation of four geothermal systems in Berks, Lehigh, Fayette and Bucks County.  

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development