Morning Call: Bethlehem water agency explores adding wind power

From today's Morning Call in Allentown:

Bethlehem water agency explores adding wind power
By Nicole Radzievich

The Bethlehem agency that owns the city's water supply in its spring-fed reservoirs in the Poconos is looking at harnessing another natural resource there: the wind.

In a time when clean energy and green living have become buzz words, the Bethlehem Authority decided Thursday to begin evaluating two companies who want to build a windmill farm at the watershed.

Proposed are 30 to 70 turbines, about 180 feet tall, on the rural ridges of Carbon and Monroe counties. Depending on how many turbines are erected, the enterprise could eventually bring the authority $200,000 to $500,000 a year and provide enough renewable energy to power more than 10,000 homes.

Read the rest of the article here.

The Senate is beginning to debate the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act that will help the United States transition to a clean energy economy. Investing $6.1 billion in Pennsylvania's clean energy industries will create 70,000 jobs within two years, protect our climate for future generations, and reduce our dependency on foreign sources of fossil fuel, making our country more safe and secure.

Pa Wind Farms Receive Recovery Act Investments

September 2, 2009

Wind farms in Cambria and Schuylkill counties are among a dozen clean energy projects that will receive funding under an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act program that provides cash assistance to energy production companies in place of earned tax credits.

The U.S. departments of Treasury and Energy this week announced a $42.2 million grant to Highland Wind Farm, a 62.5 megawatt facility under construction in Cambria County, and a $59.2 million grant to Locust Ridge II, a 102 megawatt project in Schuylkill County.



“These investments allow Pennsylvania’s energy companies to move ahead with projects that not only provide clean, renewable energy to reduce greenhouse emissions and curb climate change, but also to create and retain family-sustaining jobs and expanding Pennsylvania’s green economy,” Governor Edward G. Rendell said.

The two projects will produce enough electricity to power approximately 59,000 homes, the Governor said.

The grants are among a total of $500 million in Recovery Act investments announced this week for 12 wind and solar energy projects in eight states, the first round of grants in a program that is expected to provide more than $3 billion in financial support for clean energy projects by providing direct payments in lieu of tax credits.

The departments of Treasury and Energy last month announced the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit Program, which provides for $2.3 billion in tax credits under the Recovery Act for businesses that manufacture equipment for clean energy technology. For more information, visit www.energy.gov/recovery/48C.htm. Applications are due to the Department of Energy by Sept. 16.

“The Recovery Act is working in Pennsylvania to stimulate economic growth in the clean energy sector, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels that contribute to air pollution and climate change,” Governor Rendell said.

To learn more about how the federal economic stimulus is benefitting Pennsylvania, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.