DEP Educates Farm Show Visitors On PA’s Energy Resources, Including Drilling Video

The Department of Environmental Protection’s exhibit for the 99th annual Pennsylvania Farm Show will focus on Pennsylvania’s energy resources, featuring a van fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG), an electric vehicle (EV), an all-new animated unconventional drilling video and the garage from its award-winning DEP at Home exhibit.

The exhibit will be in the Main Hall of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg from January 10 to 17.

The exhibit will include a Ford E-350 that has been converted to run on CNG. Visitors will have the opportunity to “fill up” the van by using a real CNG pump.

A Nissan Leaf, an all-electric car, will return to the exhibit after making its debut during last year’s farm show. The Leaf was manufactured at a Nissan plant in Tennessee. Farm Show visitors will be able to use the EV charger to “power” the car.

Produced by Commonwealth Media Services, DEP’s new animated video explains the complex unconventional drilling process in an easy-to-understand and visual format. The video also details how DEP regulates the unconventional drilling process and ensures compliance with strict environmental standards.

It is the latest in DEP’s series of educational videos that are available on DEP’s YouTube page.

The DEP at Home garage includes flooring made from recycled tires, a green wall covered in living plants, information about proper disposal of household hazardous waste, as well as landscaping with native plants, and tips on proper pest management.

Visitors will also be able to see a working radon mitigation unit, in honor of Radon Action Month, which is held every January.

Residents that are interested in purchasing an alternative fuel vehicle should consider taking advantage of DEP’s Alternative Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program, which provides rebates to Pennsylvania residents that purchase certain types of alternative fuel vehicles.

The Pennsylvania Farm Show runs January 10 to 16 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and January 17 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free and parking is $10. The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center is easily accessed from nearby Interstate 81.

DEP created the exhibit through funds provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program. The video was funded by the state’s well plugging fund, financed by oil and gas permit fees and penalties.

For more information, visit DEP’s Alternative Fuel Rebate Program and DEP at Home webpages.