Homeowners in “Coal Patch” towns in Fayette County can start tapping into $4.1 million in federal grant money aimed at helping to improve their home’s energy efficiency. The US Department of Energy says the money will be spent within the next 2.5 years. DOE BetterBuildings Program Manager Danielle Byrnett says home owners will be able to tap into different levels of support based on their income. All homeowners will be eligible for a free home energy evaluation that will determine where energy can be saved. Higher income families will be eligible for rebates while lower income homeowners will be able to tap into the pot of money to fully fund upgrades such as new insulation, and new energy efficient furnaces and refrigerators.
Homeowners need to apply directly to the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette. After filling out the one-page form homeowners should expect to hear back within four weeks, says Byrnett. The DOE expects Fayette County to be able to help more than 1,000 homeowners.
Byrnett says there are several reasons why the DOE wants to make homes more energy efficient. “Getting home energy efficiency improvements allow homeowners to save energy, which improves the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants,” says Byrnett, “its also better for communities and homeowners who end up being much more comfortable and have typically improved health and safety in their homes as well.” She says it is also good for homeowners to have a little extra money in their pockets after paying the energy bills.
The Private Industry Council of Westmorland/Fayette will also be providing free training for up to 60 students to become “Building Performance Institute Certified.” The first class will begin later this month. Byrnett says there are many contractors trained in looking at different aspects of energy efficiency but not many who can take the holistic approach that is needed. She says these newly trained workers will be a great legacy left by the program.
Showing posts with label energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label energy. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
PUC Approves FirstEnergy Merger With Condition
FirstEnergy has cleared the last hurdle in its efforts to acquire rival power company Allegheny Energy. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted yesterday to approve the union, which means that four electric utilities operating in Pennsylvania will have the same parent company.
Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy announced last year that it was buying Greensburg based Allegheny Energy. The companies say this was the final regulatory approval needed to close the transaction. Federal, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia regulators have already given their approvals. Together, the merged company will include ten electric utilities serving 6 million customers in seven states including 2 million in Pennsylvania.
The vote by the PUC was 3-2 in favor of the deal. To get those votes the merger agreement had to include several stipulations. Among them was a deal to offer $10.7 million in Credits to residential customers of West Penn Power. FirstEnergy Spokesperson Ellen Raines says that money would be spread over 3 years and will amount to about 50-cents a month. FirstEnergy has also agreed to maintain at least 600 employees at a regional office in Greensburg for at least 5 years.
The PUC has also approved an investigation into the level of competition in the state’s electricity industry.
Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy announced last year that it was buying Greensburg based Allegheny Energy. The companies say this was the final regulatory approval needed to close the transaction. Federal, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia regulators have already given their approvals. Together, the merged company will include ten electric utilities serving 6 million customers in seven states including 2 million in Pennsylvania.
The vote by the PUC was 3-2 in favor of the deal. To get those votes the merger agreement had to include several stipulations. Among them was a deal to offer $10.7 million in Credits to residential customers of West Penn Power. FirstEnergy Spokesperson Ellen Raines says that money would be spread over 3 years and will amount to about 50-cents a month. FirstEnergy has also agreed to maintain at least 600 employees at a regional office in Greensburg for at least 5 years.
The PUC has also approved an investigation into the level of competition in the state’s electricity industry.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Duquesne Lessens Carbon Emissions
Duquesne University has announced results of its second greenhouse gas emissions inventory, which says the school has reduced students’ individual carbon footprints by more than thirteen percent in 2008. 4.0 metric tons of emissions are released by each student annually, down from 4.6 per student in 2006. Native Energy of Vermont says the average American household emits 10.8 metric tons per year.
Duquesne professor and principal investigator of the study Stanley Kabala says compared with other schools of similar size and location, Duquesne is looking good. He says figures of those schools range from four metric tons of carbon released per year to over ten metric tons emitted annually.
Kabala says the decrease in emissions was in large part due to the university’s reliance on renewable energy generated on campus. Other contributing factors include regular maintenance of heating and cooling systems and sealing windows and doors of school facilities. Kabala says off-campus transportation to ball games and other extracurricular activities account for a large part of the university’s emissions. He says more energy saving ideas, like a shuttle bus to the South Side and on-campus solar panels, are up for consideration.
Duquesne professor and principal investigator of the study Stanley Kabala says compared with other schools of similar size and location, Duquesne is looking good. He says figures of those schools range from four metric tons of carbon released per year to over ten metric tons emitted annually.
Kabala says the decrease in emissions was in large part due to the university’s reliance on renewable energy generated on campus. Other contributing factors include regular maintenance of heating and cooling systems and sealing windows and doors of school facilities. Kabala says off-campus transportation to ball games and other extracurricular activities account for a large part of the university’s emissions. He says more energy saving ideas, like a shuttle bus to the South Side and on-campus solar panels, are up for consideration.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Western PA Congressmen Disagree Over Clean Energy Bill
Members of the southwestern Pennsylvania Congressional delegation were split on the American Clean Energy and Security Act which squeaked through the House by 7 votes. Democrats Mike Doyle and John Murtha voted "yes" while Democrat Jason Altmire and Republican Tim Murphy voted "no."
Congressman Doyle said the presents a tremendous opportunity "to promote economic growth and job creation while we solve one of the biggest environmental challenges facing the world today,”
H.R. 2454 would reduce carbon-dioxide emissions in the United States below 2005 levels by 17 percent in the year 2020 – and by 83 percent in the year 2050.
Doyle says the legislation would make the U.S. a leader in energy-efficient technology
“Pittsburgh, which is already a world leader in this field, is well positioned to prosper if the American Clean Energy and Security Act becomes law.”
Congressman Murtha says he did not support the original draft of the bill until compromises were made and he still called it a difficult vote.....“But solving America’s energy and environmental problems requires making tough decisions and taking immediate action. The American Clean Energy and Security Act will make America more energy independent and protect people from exorbitant energy costs in the future."
Congressman Altmire said he's long advocated for comprehensive energy legislation that will lower energy costs for Americans and end dependence on foreign oil, but this bill does neither.
“As our country struggles to recover from a severe economic recession, this legislation would raise energy prices for western Pennsylvania families. We need to focus on cultivating our abundant domestic energy resources and investing in alternative energies that will put our nation on a path to energy independence."
Altmire says he will continue to focus on expanding domestic energy production in a way that will create jobs, lower energy costs and help make America energy independent.
Republican Tim Murphy says his constituents are worried about their jobs and cost of living. "This Congress has abandoned Western Pennsylvania in a misguided attempt to shut down the coal industry in the United States, believing that we can't have clean energy with coal...we can have clean coal and clean emission. But we need to invest in the technologies that will lead us there."
Murphy says his legislation would reduce dependence on foreign oil by exploring for domestic oil and dedicating funds to build clean coal plants and clean nuclear power plants.
Congressman Doyle said the presents a tremendous opportunity "to promote economic growth and job creation while we solve one of the biggest environmental challenges facing the world today,”
H.R. 2454 would reduce carbon-dioxide emissions in the United States below 2005 levels by 17 percent in the year 2020 – and by 83 percent in the year 2050.
Doyle says the legislation would make the U.S. a leader in energy-efficient technology
“Pittsburgh, which is already a world leader in this field, is well positioned to prosper if the American Clean Energy and Security Act becomes law.”
Congressman Murtha says he did not support the original draft of the bill until compromises were made and he still called it a difficult vote.....“But solving America’s energy and environmental problems requires making tough decisions and taking immediate action. The American Clean Energy and Security Act will make America more energy independent and protect people from exorbitant energy costs in the future."
Congressman Altmire said he's long advocated for comprehensive energy legislation that will lower energy costs for Americans and end dependence on foreign oil, but this bill does neither.
“As our country struggles to recover from a severe economic recession, this legislation would raise energy prices for western Pennsylvania families. We need to focus on cultivating our abundant domestic energy resources and investing in alternative energies that will put our nation on a path to energy independence."
Altmire says he will continue to focus on expanding domestic energy production in a way that will create jobs, lower energy costs and help make America energy independent.
Republican Tim Murphy says his constituents are worried about their jobs and cost of living. "This Congress has abandoned Western Pennsylvania in a misguided attempt to shut down the coal industry in the United States, believing that we can't have clean energy with coal...we can have clean coal and clean emission. But we need to invest in the technologies that will lead us there."
Murphy says his legislation would reduce dependence on foreign oil by exploring for domestic oil and dedicating funds to build clean coal plants and clean nuclear power plants.
Friday, June 12, 2009
State Announces Specific Stimulus Allocation
Secretary James Creedon, Chief Implementation Officer for the Pennsylvania Commission on American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, addressed community leaders, nonprofit organizations, and foundation directors at a forum in the Heinz History Center today. He explained how $9.4 billion in stimulus package funding is being distributed and divided in Pennsylvania.
Creedon says the largest portion of stimulus money will go toward Medicaid. $4 billion dollars will go to this state program to free up money for other areas of governance. “It was a good, easy way to put money into an existing program, one that didn’t need to be created anew, one that the regulations were in place, the processes were in place, and the state could manage it very quickly and get that money and help them with the budget deficit we face in all 50 states,” says Creedon.
Education will receive $2.56 billion in stimulus cash, says Creedon. “Whether it’s Title 1, whether it’s Special Ed, or whether it’s idea funding, [the allocation] is also designed to help states stabilize their budgets a little bit,” says Creedon. “The governor’s proposal was to use that stabilization money to allow schools to do things differently, to invest in modernization, to invest in new curriculum, to invest in computer upgrades.” Creedon says Senate Republicans are opposed to this idea, preferring instead to cut state funding to education and use the stimulus dollars to fill in the gap.
Over $1 billion will go to state transportation projects, mainly highways and bridges. Creedon says mass transit and airports will be funded directly from the federal agencies, and rail investments will be done through a competitive grant program. Creedon says roadways and bridges are where the Rendell administration came more into play. “The governor said, ‘We’re not going to take that billion dollars and reduce what we would normally invest in highways by a billion dollars. We’re going to keep our investment at 1.8 [billion dollars] and we’re going to invest another billion dollars in highways and bridges,’” says Creedon. He says by Labor Day, every one of the transportation projects in the stimulus program will be under way.
Creedon says $258 million will be granted to the state over the next two years to work with 42 organizations to perform weatherization projects. “This isn’t redoing a bridge. This is putting new storm windows in a home,” says Creedon. In addition, $100 million will be used to invest in alternative energy sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass energies. He says investment will probably begin in the summer, focusing mostly on wind energy.
Creedon adds that $23 million will be set aside for communities with under 35,000 people, for companies looking to make smaller investments. He says companies can be creative with their applications, but most are expected to address community “housekeeping” needs.
Creedon says the largest portion of stimulus money will go toward Medicaid. $4 billion dollars will go to this state program to free up money for other areas of governance. “It was a good, easy way to put money into an existing program, one that didn’t need to be created anew, one that the regulations were in place, the processes were in place, and the state could manage it very quickly and get that money and help them with the budget deficit we face in all 50 states,” says Creedon.
Education will receive $2.56 billion in stimulus cash, says Creedon. “Whether it’s Title 1, whether it’s Special Ed, or whether it’s idea funding, [the allocation] is also designed to help states stabilize their budgets a little bit,” says Creedon. “The governor’s proposal was to use that stabilization money to allow schools to do things differently, to invest in modernization, to invest in new curriculum, to invest in computer upgrades.” Creedon says Senate Republicans are opposed to this idea, preferring instead to cut state funding to education and use the stimulus dollars to fill in the gap.
Over $1 billion will go to state transportation projects, mainly highways and bridges. Creedon says mass transit and airports will be funded directly from the federal agencies, and rail investments will be done through a competitive grant program. Creedon says roadways and bridges are where the Rendell administration came more into play. “The governor said, ‘We’re not going to take that billion dollars and reduce what we would normally invest in highways by a billion dollars. We’re going to keep our investment at 1.8 [billion dollars] and we’re going to invest another billion dollars in highways and bridges,’” says Creedon. He says by Labor Day, every one of the transportation projects in the stimulus program will be under way.
Creedon says $258 million will be granted to the state over the next two years to work with 42 organizations to perform weatherization projects. “This isn’t redoing a bridge. This is putting new storm windows in a home,” says Creedon. In addition, $100 million will be used to invest in alternative energy sources, including solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass energies. He says investment will probably begin in the summer, focusing mostly on wind energy.
Creedon adds that $23 million will be set aside for communities with under 35,000 people, for companies looking to make smaller investments. He says companies can be creative with their applications, but most are expected to address community “housekeeping” needs.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Duquesne Light Offers Free Energy Audits
Starting this month, Duquesne Light is offering a free energy conservation program to customers whose income falls between 150 and 250 percent of Federal Poverty Guidelines, which are based on income and the number of people in the household.
To set up a free energy audit, call the company's Universal Services Department at 888-393-7600. Duquesne Light spokesman Joseph Vallarian says Conservation Consultants will walk through your home or apartment and point out ways to save money. Easy fixes may include plastic sheeting on windows to reduce drafts, adding insulation, or changing the furnace filter.
Vallarian says Duquesne Light also has programs for paying the bills, but it's very important to call at the first sign of a problem.
To set up a free energy audit, call the company's Universal Services Department at 888-393-7600. Duquesne Light spokesman Joseph Vallarian says Conservation Consultants will walk through your home or apartment and point out ways to save money. Easy fixes may include plastic sheeting on windows to reduce drafts, adding insulation, or changing the furnace filter.
Vallarian says Duquesne Light also has programs for paying the bills, but it's very important to call at the first sign of a problem.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Duquesne Light Offers Gift Certificates
For the second year, Duquesne Light is offering gift certificates on their website, www.duquesnelight.com, or by calling 412-393-7100. Last year, according to spokesperson Joseph Vallarian, many people bought them for elderly relatives or others who could use help paying their bills.
Customers can help neighbors they don’t even know by including donations to the Dollar Energy Fund with their monthly payments.
Vallarian says Duquesne Light matches whatever their customers give to the Dollary Energy Fund, a separate organization assisting people whose service is in danger of termination.
Customers can help neighbors they don’t even know by including donations to the Dollar Energy Fund with their monthly payments.
Vallarian says Duquesne Light matches whatever their customers give to the Dollary Energy Fund, a separate organization assisting people whose service is in danger of termination.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Biomass and Garbage Take Center Stage in Pittsburgh
The second “International Energy from Biomass and Waste Exposition and Conference” kicks off in Pittsburgh Tuesday. The event features sessions on everything from the latest energy technologies and government policies to finance and investment strategies. The event also includes an expo floor with exhibitors ranging from bio mass producers to fuel and chemical makers. There is also a workforce development and youth forum aimed at linking businesses with employees. Conference co-organizer Nathaniel Doyno says Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s largest producers of biomass, one of the nation’s largest importers of garbage and one of the nation’s largest users of energy so the information that will be discussed this week is key to the future of the region. He says while investments in new ventures may be slowing thanks to tight financial markets he thinks safe investment like garbage-to-energy projects will continue to attract money. More than 1-thousand delegates are expected and more than 70 businesses and organizations will have booths at the expo.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Coal Conference Underway in Pittsburgh
The 25 annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference kicked off Tuesday morning by focusing on coal’s potential impact on a looming power crisis, energy independence and greener energy. Carbon sequestration was the buzzword for many of the conference speakers. The department of energy has identified enough CO2 storage capacity in the US to hold 3 and a half trillion tons and Eastman Chemicals Vice President Gregory Nelson says their project using sequestration is helping lower demand for imported energy but eliminating the need for 10-20 million gallons of imported oil every year.
Other speakers noted technologies that reduce carbon emissions from coal-fired plants by more than 90-percent are available today but opposition to new coal fired plants is stronger than ever before. Others opined that wind, solar and other renewable sources cannot be brought on line fast enough to cover the nation’s growing demand. The conference continues through Thursday.
Other speakers noted technologies that reduce carbon emissions from coal-fired plants by more than 90-percent are available today but opposition to new coal fired plants is stronger than ever before. Others opined that wind, solar and other renewable sources cannot be brought on line fast enough to cover the nation’s growing demand. The conference continues through Thursday.
Monday, September 22, 2008
CMU Energy Forum
United States Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez spoke with various company CEOs from Westinghouse Electric, Equitable Resources and Plextronics Inc. at Carnegie Mellon University in a forum about what innovations are needed to harness new energy. Gutierrez says there is a tremendous amount of work that is being overlooked. With over 200 million gas stations in the United States, the country cannot simply convert from fossil fuels to renewable energy overnight. Gutierrez says changing energy needs to be looked at in the long term. However, to get to the future, the United States must use a broad range of sources that include offshore drilling and nuclear power as options.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Green Jobs from $100 Billion Investment
A new report indicates that a $100 billion investment over 2 years in clean energy could create 2 million new jobs in the United States. The study was compiled by the Center for American Progress and the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst for a group of labor and environmental groups including the United Steelworkers of America, the Clean Air Council, Sierra Club, PennFuture and PennEnvironment.
Bracken Hendricks of the Center for American Progress says the projected 2 million jobs are four times the amount created by a similar investment in the oil industry and 20% more than by a taxpayer rebate. Hendricks says they believe that Pennsylvania's economy would get a $4 billion infusion from such an investment and 86 thousand new jobs.
Joe Minott of the Clean Air Council says they propose the investment be in six green infrastructure priorities: retrofitting buildings to improve energy efficiency; expanding mass transit and freight rail; constructing "smart" electrical grid transmission systems; wind power; solar power; and, next generation biofuels.
Hendricks says there is a misconception that green jobs involve dislocation and retraining. He says the vast majority of the new jobs created would be the types already being done by millions of Americans: electricians, carpenters, machinists, mechanics, metal fabricators and software engineers.
Hendricks says old legacy industries like steel can benefit from investments in clean energy because it takes 26 tons of steel to build one windmill.
The environmental/labor coalition suggests the $100 billion could come from direct appropriations, tax credits. loan guarantees and mostly from auctioning carbon permits under a global warming cap and trade system.
Bracken Hendricks of the Center for American Progress says the projected 2 million jobs are four times the amount created by a similar investment in the oil industry and 20% more than by a taxpayer rebate. Hendricks says they believe that Pennsylvania's economy would get a $4 billion infusion from such an investment and 86 thousand new jobs.
Joe Minott of the Clean Air Council says they propose the investment be in six green infrastructure priorities: retrofitting buildings to improve energy efficiency; expanding mass transit and freight rail; constructing "smart" electrical grid transmission systems; wind power; solar power; and, next generation biofuels.
Hendricks says there is a misconception that green jobs involve dislocation and retraining. He says the vast majority of the new jobs created would be the types already being done by millions of Americans: electricians, carpenters, machinists, mechanics, metal fabricators and software engineers.
Hendricks says old legacy industries like steel can benefit from investments in clean energy because it takes 26 tons of steel to build one windmill.
The environmental/labor coalition suggests the $100 billion could come from direct appropriations, tax credits. loan guarantees and mostly from auctioning carbon permits under a global warming cap and trade system.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Murphy Seeks End to U.S. Energy Embargo
U.S. Congressman Tim Murphy, a democrat from Allegheny County, sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Republican leader John Boehner today calling upon them to forget party lines and end the American energy embargo. Murphy, a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, asks Congress to implement an American Energy Action plan. He says the United States is rich with billions of barrels of oil within its borders, but will not allow drilling. He also says that citizens are fed up with the high costs of gasoline and food, and are growing frustrated with the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs. Murphy insists that U.S. oil can be drilled safely to prevent major environmental damage, and that an increase in supply coupled with conservancy could provide relief at the pump and jobs for the workforce. The average price of gasoline in Pittsburgh has reached $4.00 a gallon and oil is trading at around $128 per barrel.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Alcoa May Create Aluminum Industry in Greenland
Pittsburgh-based Alcoa may expand into Greenland. Talks with Greenland's government began last year on building an aluminum smelter in their country. Now, Greenland's Parliament has agreed to enter the second phase of studies on the project.
Greenland is attractive to Alcoa because of its potential for hydroelectric power. A company spokesman says Alcoa is looking to expand to other countries as the worldwide demand for aluminum continues to rise. Greenland currently does not have an aluminum industry.
Alcoa has narrowed its focus in Greenland to the rural town of Maniitsoq. The company will study the feasibility of locating a smelter and hydroelectric power plant there, as well as the potential environmental, economic and social impacts of this kind of project. A similar project in Iceland has divided residents there. Some say it's providing economic benefits to the country; others say it's destroying what had been pristine land.
Greenland is attractive to Alcoa because of its potential for hydroelectric power. A company spokesman says Alcoa is looking to expand to other countries as the worldwide demand for aluminum continues to rise. Greenland currently does not have an aluminum industry.
Alcoa has narrowed its focus in Greenland to the rural town of Maniitsoq. The company will study the feasibility of locating a smelter and hydroelectric power plant there, as well as the potential environmental, economic and social impacts of this kind of project. A similar project in Iceland has divided residents there. Some say it's providing economic benefits to the country; others say it's destroying what had been pristine land.
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