PA DEP to Email Notices as Information, Applications Become Available



    HARRISBURG, Pa., July 30 /EMWNews/ -- Households, small

businesses, political subdivisions and companies that want to save money

through energy conservation or that plan to develop alternative and

renewable energy technologies can now register for email updates as

information on Pennsylvania's new $650 million Alternative Energy

Investment Fund becomes available.



    To register, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us and click on the "Fueling

Energy Savings" icon, then click on the green envelope icon on the

left-hand side of the page.



    Since Governor Edward G. Rendell signed Special Session Act 1 of 2008

into law earlier this month, the Department of Environmental Protection has

received a large number of calls and emails from constituents and

businesses seeking more information on the programs, according to DEP's

Deputy Secretary for Energy and Technology Deployment Dan Griffiths.



    "The response has been phenomenal and shows that the public and

businesses are ready to use and develop alternative forms of energy and

that they want to take steps to conserve energy and save money," said

Griffiths. "Pennsylvania's families and employers are facing higher prices

at the pump every day and they're wondering how much it's going to cost to

heat their home this winter since heating oil is twice as expensive as it

was last year. On top of that, they're worrying about a double-digit

increase in their electricity bills in the coming year.



    "Consumers are seeing all of this and looking at how it'll affect their

pocketbook or their bottom line and they're searching for alternatives. The

investments we'll make with the new Alternative Energy Investment Fund will

help consumers take advantage of alternative technologies that are

increasingly more cost effective and help them take on projects that will

make their homes more energy efficient, which will save them money."



    DEP, working with the Department of Community and Economic Development

and the Commonwealth Financing Authority, are developing the guidelines and

applications for each program as called for in the law.



    Included among the new $650 million fund is:



    -- $165 million for loans and grants to spur the development of

alternative and renewable energy projects (except solar) among businesses

and local governments;



    -- $100 million to provide loans, grants and rebates that cover up to

35 percent of the costs residential consumers and small businesses incur

for installing for solar energy technology;



    -- $80 million in grants and loans for economic development projects in

the solar sector;



    -- $40 million to the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority to

support early stage activities, such as incubator support services,

translational and early stage research in startup businesses that develop

and implement energy efficiency technologies;



    -- $25 million for wind energy and geothermal projects;



    -- $25 million for green buildings. Homeowners and small businesses

will benefit from grants and loans to build energy efficient structures or

renovate an existing building to improve its energy efficiency;



    -- $40 million ($10 million annually for four years) to support LIHEAP

so the commonwealth can help low-income customers manage higher energy

prices, severe weather conditions, or disasters; and



    -- $25 million for pollution control technology to help energy

generators meet state and federal standards.



    The law also establishes a $150 million consumer energy program for

individuals and small businesses that will support projects that conserve

energy and use it more efficiently - something that is increasingly

important as the costs for electricity, fuels and natural gas continue to

increase.



    The $150 million will be allocated over eight years, with $20 million

annually through 2014-15 and another $10 million in 2015-16 that will

include:



    -- $92.5 million so homeowners and small business owners can cover 25

percent of the cost of purchasing and installing energy conservation tools

and weatherize their buildings;



    -- $50 million in tax credits of up to $1 million a year per project

for developing and building alternative energy projects, which will help

Pennsylvania companies invest and grow here; and.



    -- $5 million to support an Energy Efficiency Loan Fund through the

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.



    CONTACT: Neil Weaver



    (717) 787-1323