Pennsylvania solar energy programme awards over $7m to six state projects

12 May 2010

The commonwealth of the US state of Pennsylvania will invest $7m into six new solar projects, according to George Cornelius, secretary of the Department of Community and Economic Development.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority has approved grants for the six projects through the state’s solar energy programme, he said.

The projects, located in Lancaster, Northampton and Schuylkill counties, will leverage more than $55m in private investments.

They will have an installed capacity of more than 12.5MW and generate at least 14,000MWh of electricity annually.

In addition to generating 14,000 solar renewable energy credits a year, the systems will save their respective owners $777,000 in annual electric production over the next 20 years, according to the office of Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell.

Ryan Solar 1, Blythe Water Authority Solar 1 and a second 3MW solar farm adjacent to Silver Creek Reservoir will each be awarded a $1.5m solar energy programme grant.

The state commonwealth is also awarding East Norwegian Solar 1 a $1.5m solar energy programme grant for the installation of a 3MW solar farm in East Norwegian Township, which will cost $15.1m in total.

In Lancaster Country, Refreshing Mountain Camp will receive a $106,314 solar energy programme grant to install a cumulative 61.1kW rooftop and ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) system at its facility in Clay Township.

Positive Energy Pennsylvania 2 in Northampton County will receive a $966,000 solar energy programme grant to purchase and install a ground-mounted solar PV system for the Lower Nazareth Elementary School in Lower Nazareth Township. The total project cost is $2.3m.

‘From helping a school district become more energy efficient to transforming a blighted coal property into a solar farm, these investments are paving the way for a cleaner, greener economy and moving the commonwealth away from more costly, traditional fuels,’ said Cornelius.

‘Pennsylvania is poised to become one of the top five states for solar energy installation by the end of the year. State investments in solar and other renewable energy sources help to drive down the cost of development and deployment of solar technology,’ he added.

The Commonwealth Financing Authority administers Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus programmes, including portions of the $650m Alternative Energy Investment Fund that Governor Rendell passed as legislation in 2008.

Copyright © 2010 NewNet

Tags: solar

This story was published on Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 at 10:49 am and is filed under North America, deals, solar. You can follow any responses to article entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

One Response to “Pennsylvania solar energy programme awards over $7m to six state projects”

1. dextercath96 says:

   9 June 2010 at 5:06 am

   I think the rewards will use efficiently in developing
   solar power in different states. I hoping that the solar power will be granted in different countries so that the people will enjoy the benefit of solar energy.

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