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‘Going Green’ more than mere talk at Edinboro

01/29/2010

‘Going Green’ more than mere talk at Edinboro
University is recipient of major grant for rooftop-mounted solar array

EDINBORO, Pa. – Clean, renewable energy has long been more than more catch-phrase at Edinboro University.

It has become a recognized fact of life that not only helps manage and stabilize the University’s multi-million-dollar economy, but also contributes to reduction of the institution’s carbon footprint in northwestern Pennsylvania.

The latest development in Edinboro’s drive toward a “green” and highly sustainable University environment is the announcement by Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell that Edinboro will receive $474,000 for a 210-kilowatt solar array to be constructed atop McComb Fieldhouse. According to Rendell’s announcement, besides generating electricity for the University, the array will allow Edinboro to market and sell solar renewable energy credits.

“We’re obviously extremely pleased with this grant,” said Edinboro President Jeremy D. Brown. “It underscores, reinforces and once again justifies our confidence and commitment to reusable energy in all forms. At Edinboro, we want to be green in more than mere words. We strive to be green in all we do.”

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection officials said the Edinboro project, part of $9.5 million in federal economic stimulus funding to be spent on eight solar projects in the Commonwealth, will create 10 skilled labor jobs.

“This investment is critically important to strengthening Pennsylvania’s economy, not only because of the private capital it will attract and the jobs it will create, but because of the great economic potential the renewable energy industry holds for our state,” Rendell said of all eight solar projects, including Edinboro’s.

Slated for completion by September 2010, the Edinboro array’s .21-megawatt solar capacity will not only annually generate 227 megawatt hours of electricity, but also reduce carbon emissions by some 272 tons.

The Green Energy Works! solar program announced by the DEP and Gov. Rendell’s office, is one component of statewide competitive grant initiatives that use “green” jobs to create “green” energy while stimulating state, regional and local economic development.

“At Edinboro, we all take pride in the many initiatives we’ve launched toward energy conservation and reduction,” Brown said.  “All have resulted not just in the energy savings, cost efficiency and solid monetary savings, but also on off-setting carbon emissions by countless tons.”

For example, Brown pointed to the multi-million-dollar/multi-year energy reduction and conservation partnership between Edinboro University and Honeywell Building Solutions that has been ongoing since 2007, resulting in guaranteed cost and energy savings campus-wide.

“It’s also important to note that the new solar array is in addition to the many geothermal wells being drilled for the heating and cooling at all new and renovation campus building projects,” Brown said.

Rendell, in announcing the statewide grants, said that since solar power is an increasingly important part of Pennsylvania’s electricity generation capacity, it thus becomes equally important for the state’s economy.

“That’s why we’ve made an earnest commitment to ensuring more solar projects, solar manufacturers, and related industries establish operations here. We’re now on tract to be one of the top five states for producing solar energy by the end of the year.”