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BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP, Nov 03, 2005 /PRNewswire
Governor Edward G. Rendell is making investments and putting policies in place to help Pennsylvania build a clean energy future and keep the state in the forefront of alternative energy development. "Working with private industry and making strategic investments, Pennsylvania continues to build its own energy from wind power to waste-coal- to-diesel to biofuels," the Governor added. "We cannot afford to wait for the federal government to establish a policy that supports our businesses and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. We are acting now. Pennsylvania leads states east of the Mississippi in the deployment of wind energy, producing nearly 135 megawatts of electricity -- enough to power more than 50,000 homes -- with as many as 65 megawatts scheduled to come on line within the next year. Among the wind energy projects in development is the Bear Creek Wind Farm, located just south of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County. "When I came to Harrisburg three years ago, I said we were going to do things differently," Governor Rendell said. "Today is another example of how we're going to lead, not follow. I am determined to start bringing our independence back as a country. We are working to keep our energy dollars here and put our own citizens to work by supporting innovative ideas. Development and deployment of wind resources is an economic and environmental win for our commonwealth." Wind power is among the cleanest and fastest-growing sources of energy. In Pennsylvania, its potential is significant. There are more than 5,000 megawatts of untapped power in the commonwealth, with the potential to generate 45 billion kilowatt-hours annually, enough to power more than 5 million homes. The Bear Creek Wind Farm, which is being developed by Community Energy Inc., features 12 wind turbines that will provide more than 70 million kilowatt hours of clean, renewable and domestically produced electricity for more than 9,000 homes each year. All of the towers, currently under construction, should be in place by early next year." Governor Rendell provided $692,000 to the wind farm through the Department of Environmental Protection's Clean Air Fund. Bear Creek also received a $1 million low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, which the Governor recently revitalized as part of his strategy to build a clean, indigenous, diversified energy industry in the state. Bear Creek's 12 turbines -- the largest turbines in use in the United States -- are being supplied by Gamesa Corp. of Spain, the world's second- largest wind-energy manufacturer, which set up shop in Pennsylvania in September 2004. Governor Rendell personally led the campaign to land Gamesa, beating out many other vying states. With its U.S. headquarters and two manufacturing facilities based here, Gamesa represents a $40 million investment in the state that will create as many as 1,000 jobs over five years. The Bear Creek Wind Farm is among a number of projects that Governor Rendell has supported and advanced to build Pennsylvania's clean energy future. The Governor's successful and visionary leadership in building a clean energy future was recognized recently by former President William J. Clinton in the Inaugural Clinton Global Initiative, an international summit. In late October, Governor Rendell launched the east coast's first commercially viable biofuels storage and blending system in Middletown, Dauphin County. The plant will replace 3.2 million gallons of foreign oil with domestically produced biodiesel and will keep about $6 million worth of energy dollars in the Commonwealth by reducing the state's need to purchase imported fuels. Pennsylvanians now spend some $30 billion per year on imported energy fuels. However, using and developing homegrown energy sources and supplies has a multiplier effect in local and regional economies that can yield significant economic benefits. Governor Rendell has made Pennsylvania a frontrunner in addressing the country's dependence on foreign oil by supporting the nation's first-ever waste-coal-to-diesel plant and creating a fuel consortium that will purchase nearly all of the cheaper, cleaner, diesel fuel that will be produced at the Schuylkill County facility. The plant, which is being built by Waste Management and Processors Inc. of Gilberton, Schuylkill County, will use waste coal to produce as much as 40 million gallons of clean-burning diesel annually. Construction will create as many as 1,000 jobs. Operating the plant will produce another 600 permanent, high-paying, positions. The company expects to break ground and start construction as early as spring of 2006. Nationally syndicated business and financial columnist Lou Dobbs praised Governor Rendell recently on his CNN news program for his national leadership on energy initiatives. Barron's, one of the nation's premier financial weekly magazines, and Bloomberg News, also highlighted the Governor's leadership in creating the buyers' consortium. Pennsylvania is now home to one of the nation's most progressive alternative energy portfolio standards, ensuring that 18 percent of all energy generated comes from clean, efficient sources by the year 2020. Pennsylvania is one of two states with a portfolio standard that includes energy efficiency, and the commonwealth's portfolio standard far surpasses any other state requirement for solar energy, guaranteeing a market share for solar that is some 300-percent greater than anywhere else in the country. Benefits include $10 billion in increased output for Pennsylvania, $3 billion in additional earnings and between 3,500 and 4,000 news jobs for residents over the next 20 years. Earlier this week, Governor Rendell announced Pennsylvania is taking aggressive steps to clean up its rivers and streams, improve parks, revitalize abandoned industrial sites and protect open space and preserve farmland with an investment of $65 million in environmental projects that will help scores of Pennsylvania communities. The Governor also said all 67 counties will now be able to apply for $90 million, allocated on a county-by-county basis, for eligible environmental projects. Governor Rendell's Growing Greener II initiative provides significant resources to build on the success of other energy initiatives, including up to $10 million annually for PEDA, which has up to $1 billion available to provide financing to help build clean power and fuel plants. In June, PEDA awarded its first $6.5 million to finance 16 clean energy projects that will create as many as 450 permanent and construction jobs, including 327 full-time jobs. The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program funds projects that build markets for advanced and renewable energy technologies that use biomass, wind, solar, small-scale hydroelectric, landfill methane, energy efficiency, coal- bed methane and waste coal. The program has awarded $10 million and leveraged another $26.7 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003. Governor Rendell also signed an executive order, "Energy Management and Conservation in the Commonwealth," ensuring maximum efficiency in energy management and conservation in state facilities through the implementation of a centralized energy strategy. This measure will decrease energy consumption and energy costs and promote a cleaner environment. The Governor enacted an expansion of the state's Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program, which invests in enhancing the infrastructure necessary to expand the state's capacity to produce alternative fuels. AFIG also helps residents purchase alternative-fuel vehicles and finances related fuel projects to create new markets that can have measurable impacts on pollution reduction, environmental protection and economic growth. More recently, Governor Rendell announced a plan to replace some 25 percent of the state's vehicle fleet with hybrids by 2011. For more information on these energy initiatives, visit the state's Web site at http://www.state.pa.us , Keyword: "DEP Alternative Energy." The Rendell Administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us . News Provided By |
