Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority Receives $75,000 West Penn Energy Fund Grant For Solar Energy Array; Will Save $2 Million Over 25 Years; Power Renewable Gas Facility

On October 2, the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority announced it has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the West Penn Energy Fund to support the upcoming solar PV array installation.

After a competitive RFP process, CCRRA has hired local solar developer Envinity to complete the installation. 

The 791.5-kilowatt solar system will be installed over three separate CCRRA buildings and is estimated to produce about 939,881 kwh/year, which will offset more than 100% of the facility’s annual energy usage. 

Envinity estimates the system will save the Authority nearly $2 million over the next 25 years while also providing rate and budget stability.

Joel Morrison, Fund Administrator for the West Penn Energy Fund, said “We hope this project can serve as a model for other counties who are interested in supporting renewable solar energy, while making a significant impact on their bills and overall energy usage. There are many economic and environmental benefits that CCRRA will be able to share with surrounding community leaders.”

Ted Onufrak, Executive Director of CCRRA, said, “The Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority is thankful to WPEF for their support of our solar project. The solar system will benefit the public in four main ways: 1) by freeing up capital to improve the services provided by the Authority, 2) reducing energy demand, 3) increasing energy supply, and 4) providing education on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability through public tours and other programs.”

“With the volatility in electricity costs that we’ve experienced over the past several years, and the federal Inflation Reduction Act offering cost-saving incentives to go solar, we are seeing many customers choose to make the switch,” said Jason Grottini, Vice President of Envinity. “We congratulate CCRRA for having the vision and resolve to achieve this milestone and move the Authority into the clean energy economy.”

Will Also Power Renewable Gas Facility

The solar-produced electricity will also power CCRRA’s renewable natural gas (RNG) station in College Township, PA, which provides clean, low-carbon fuel produced from organic waste to natural gas vehicles. 

Owned and operated by Clean Energy Fuels Corp., the leading provider of RNG for the transportation market in the country, the station will be one of the first in the nation to supply RNG while using electricity produced by solar power – making it a 100% renewable energy station. 

As a public access fueling site, the RNG station currently serves CCRRA vehicles, WM refuse fleets and is equipped to accommodate heavy-duty trucks.

Cummins is in the process of rolling out the X15N 15-liter natural gas engine, which has been tested by some of the most demanding heavy-duty truck fleets in the country to positive reviews. 

Bousum Transfer recently won the CCRRA transfer hauling contract and will be deploying 8 new X15N tractors to service this contract in October, which will be some of the first X15N engines ordered and deployed.

Visit the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority website for more information on recycling and waste services in Centre County.

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-- PennFuture: Lawmakers Move Bill To Require Clean Solar Energy Facilities To Have Bonds; But Fail To Have Adequate Plugging Bonds For Dirty Oil & Gas Wells Leaving Taxpayers To Pick Up The Cost  [PaEN]

-- Stroud Water Research Center Receives $141,000 Grant From Green Mountain Energy Sun Club For New 55-Kilowatt Rooftop Solar Energy System  [PaEN] 

-- Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority Receives $75,000 West Penn Energy Fund Grant For Solar Energy Array; Will Save $2 Million Over 25 Years; Power Renewable Gas Facility  [PaEN] 

-- Sen. Yaw Introduces Bill To Prohibit State Government From Owning Any Clean Energy Credits; Would Force The Use Of More Taxpayer Money To Plug Conventional Oil & Gas Wells Routinely Abandoned By Conventional Well Owners  [PaEN]

NewsClip:

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[Posted: October 2, 2024]  PA Environment Digest