PA DEP: Solar Tour to Showcase Innovative Solar Technologies at Businesses in Northeast Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To shine sunlight on the growth and economic opportunities presented by the expanding solar industry, the Department of Environmental Protection is coordinating a tour of facilities located in Northeast Pennsylvania that are powered by solar.

"This tour is designed to showcase Pennsylvania's solar industry," said DEP Secretary John Hanger. "We are benefiting from the rapid growth it has exhibited in the past year and a half—through the generation of clean, renewable energy, and creating manufacturing opportunities for manufacturers and installers. As the industry continues to expand, those benefits will become even more evident."

Hanger added that the facilities that have agreed to provide tours of solar facilities to the public—the Pocono International Raceway, Payne Printery and Crayola—vividly illustrate not only how solar can save businesses energy dollars, but how increased demand for solar energy has made Pennsylvania one of the leading states for renewable energy development.

The Pennsylvania Portfolio Standards Act requires that one half of one percent of the electricity used within the state be solar by 2021. Since that law was enacted in 2004, Pennsylvania has become one of the leading states for renewable energy development. Pennsylvania has approximately 39 megawatts of solar power currently installed—enough to supply electricity for 5,900 average homes in Pennsylvania, with an additional 130 MW being constructed or planned.

"When the General Assembly returns to session, it will consider legislation to increase Pennsylvania's solar requirement to 1.5 percent, tripling the current requirement and providing a stable economic foundation for the solar industry to continue to thrive in the commonwealth," said Hanger.

"Growth of our state's solar industry is due to the aggressive standards that we passed six years ago. Now that other states have higher solar requirements, Pennsylvania must continue to move forward and revise our own standards. If we don't act now, we will be faced with the possibility of losing jobs and solar opportunities to other states with more incentives to assist the growth of this rapidly expanding industry," he added.

These three events are part of a statewide tour of facilities that generate energy on site using solar technology.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state/pa.us or call 412.442.4000

Media contact: John Repetz, 717-787-1323

Editor's Note: Participating locations in the solar tour include:

Pocono International Raceway - Sept. 8, 11 a.m.

The Pocono International Raceway is an internationally known automobile racetrack facility that holds two official NASCAR races in Pennsylvania every year. The privately funded, 25-acre solar array produces three megawatts of electricity, which track managers expect will meet all of the facility's electric needs and allow excess power to be sold back to the grid.

Pocono International Raceway is located in Long Pond, PA 18334-0500. From Rt. 115, turn onto  Long Pond Road (State Route 4002)  off of Rt. 115. The Solar Project is on the left near the ticket office. (Rain date is Sept. 9, 11 a.m.)

Payne Printery - Sept. 9, 2 p.m.  

Payne Printery is a full-service print and design shop. Their project is a 48.6 KW solar array. The project will save the company 10-15 percent on their energy costs per year.

Payne Printery's solar array is located on 1101 Memorial Highway, Dallas, PA, 18612.  The solar project is adjacent to the highway, directly across from the Stax Complex. (Rain date is Sept. 16, 2 p.m.)

Crayola - Sept. 10, 11 a.m.

Crayola is an internationally known manufacturer of crayons and markers. Its solar array generates 1.5 megawatts of electrical power. This covers 10 percent of Crayola's total annual energy consumption and is about a third of the energy required to make 3 billion crayons annually.

The solar array is located at 1100 Church Lane, Forks Township. Directions:

Turn on to Church Lane from Main Road/Sullivan Trail

Parking and Shuttle Bus Information:

Continue on Church Lane to the main Crayola entrance. Please come in the main entrance and register in the lobby. A shuttle bus will then take you to the event.  Please be sure to arrive no later than 11 a.m.

For the Crayola tour, please R.S.V.P. to Mary Ellen Vodin at [email protected] or Mark Carmon [email protected] by September 9.  (Rain date is Sept. 17, 11 a.m.)

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection