Dinniman Announces Clean Energy, Biofuels Grants
West Chester University, Three School Districts to Receive $387,185 in State Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2009

CONTACT: ADAM CIRUCCI                
PHONE: 610-692-2112     
acirucci@pasenate.com                                                                

WEST CHESTER (January 30) – State Senator Andy Dinniman announced today that West Chester University and three Chester County school districts will receive $387,185 in total state funding for renewable energy and biofuels projects.

“In these difficult economic times, it is all the more important that we continue to work to encourage energy conservation and efficiency, as well as the increased use of alternative and renewable energy resources,” Dinniman said. “Making these kinds of investments today will leave Pennsylvania better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.”

The funds come through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Energy Harvest and Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant programs.

Under the Energy Harvest program, West Chester University will receive $252,840 to provide additional geothermal wells as part of an upgrade to its heating system. The project is anticipated to save 203,541 kilowatt hours of electricity and 16,008 million cubic feet of natural gas per year, saving taxpayers $210,850 and avoiding emissions of 1,170 tons of carbon dioxide.

Under the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant program, the university and three Chester County School Districts will receive funds to buy-down the incremental costs of using B- 20 biodiesel blended fuel in buses and vehicles. The grants are as follows:

• West Chester University will receive $4,800 to purchase biodiesel for all of its diesel fleet vehicles. The project will displace the use of 19,000 gallons of petrodiesel.

• Tredyffrin – Easttown School District will receive $56,979 to purchase biodiesel and to clean a storage tank for holding and dispensing it. The biodiesel will be used in 60 Krapf company buses to transport students in eight public and 50 non-public charter schools. The project will displace the use of 73,000 gallons of petrodiesel.

• Great Valley School District will receive $36,166 to purchase biodiesel fuel. The project will displace the use of 52,000 gallons of petrodiesel.

• Owen J. Roberts School District will receive $36,400 to purchase biodiesel fuel. The project will displace the use of 52,000 gallons of petrodiesel.

The grants are part of $7.2 million in Energy Harvest and $6.5 million Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant funds that are set to be released statewide. In total, they will leverage more than $53.1 million in private investments, reduce consumers’ energy costs by nearly $46 million each year, cut greenhouse gas carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tons and create at least 77 jobs.

Dinniman pointed out that investing in emerging technologies and energy independence is critical in helping Pennsylvanians weather the national economic downturn.

“It is crucial that we continue to move forward in developing homegrown renewable energy resources and building our clean energy manufacturing industry,” Dinniman said. “These projects do not just reduce pollutants and cut consumer energy costs; they create a competitive business environment, attract entrepreneurs and jobs, and ensure that Pennsylvania will be a leader in the clean energy marketplace.”

These grants were some of the last to come through the latest round of the Energy Harvest and Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant programs. Both programs are currently closed, but the Department of Environmental Protection expects to reopen them in the coming months.

For more details, contact Adam Cirucci in Senator Dinniman’s office at 1-610-692-2112 or e-mail acirucci@pasenate.com.

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