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DEP Secretary McGinty Receives Alternative Fuels and Renewable Energy Leadership Award

Posted on: Tuesday, 5 December 2006, 12:01 CST

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty today received the Alternative Fuels Renewable Energies Council's (AFREC) Flame Award, which is presented every two years to individuals with the most outstanding contributions in accelerating the commercialization of alternative fuels and renewable energies.

"Governor Rendell's leadership is giving Pennsylvania a competitive edge in the manufacturing of cutting-edge, clean-energy technologies. These new industries are investing in Pennsylvania and creating jobs," McGinty said. "The advancements we are supporting will ensure our existing industries have reliable sources of clean, affordable energy so they can compete in today's global markets."

McGinty received the award today at one of AFREC's Business Roundtable meetings in Harrisburg. AFREC is an alliance of mid-Atlantic-based and national companies that are setting a trend for new economic development in the alternative fuels and renewable energy industries. AFREC provides business roundtable forums where its members meet, discuss, market their products and collaborate for new business.

AFREC honored two other leaders with Flame Awards, including Jeff Lyons, president of Worley & Obetz, a Lancaster County-based transportation and heating fuels provider that opened Pennsylvania's first, publicly-available E85 ethanol-blended fuel pump this year. The company also is a partner in the East Coast's first state-of-the-art biofuels injection facility in Dauphin County.

The second recipient is Donald Hunt, president of SYSCO Food Services of Central Pennsylvania LLC. Responding to a directive from the food company's international headquarters in Texas to pursue environmentally friendly practices developed at a local level, Hunt switched the regional fleet to biodiesel. The move was done without any outside financial incentives and resulted in cleaner air and enhanced fuel security. Governor Rendell has pursued a broad array of policies and financial tools to promote advanced energy projects in the commonwealth. The Governor recently redoubled the commonwealth's "green" electricity commitment to 20 percent, making Pennsylvania the largest state purchaser of green electricity in the nation.

The commonwealth recently received a 2006 Green Power Leadership award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy for its green electricity purchasing leadership. The annual awards recognize leading national green power purchasers and suppliers for their commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation's green power market.

Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard, one of the most progressive in the nation, ensures that 18 percent of all retail energy generated by 2020 comes from clean, efficient and advanced resources. The law promises to build substantially on the state's leadership in wind production east of the Mississippi, with wind sources providing enough clean energy to power some 70,000 homes.

Because of that leadership, Governor Rendell was able to lead a campaign to land the Spanish wind-energy company Gamesa Corp., the second largest wind energy company in the world, beating out many other vying states. With its U.S. headquarters in Philadelphia and manufacturing facilities in Bucks and Cambria counties, Gamesa represents an $84 million investment in the state that will create as many as 1,000 jobs over five years.

The state's clean energy law far surpasses other states in ensuring wide distribution and use of zero-pollution solar power. By 2021, when the solar share is in full effect, utilities will be required to purchase 700 megawatts of solar-produced electricity-the second largest solar requirement in the nation.

In November, Governor Rendell announced that Germany-based Conergy AG --- the world's largest solar power integration company --- has agreed to locate the North American headquarters of its financial subsidiary, voltwerk, and the East Coast operations of its solar engineering and installation subsidiary, SunTechnics, in Pennsylvania. The move will create up to 50 engineering, financing and management jobs and up to $100 million in clean energy deals over the next three years.

The commonwealth is leading in other areas of advanced energy development, creating jobs and cleaning up the environment while putting indigenous resources to work. Pennsylvania is second only to California in the number of buildings certified by the U.S. Green Building Council under the internationally recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

Governor Rendell's "PennSecurity Fuels Initiative" will produce and use 900-million gallons annually of clean, domestic fuel - an amount equivalent to what the state is expected to import from the Persian Gulf 10 years from now. The Governor is investing $30 million over the next five years to build re- fueling and production infrastructure to support wide distribution of the alternative fuels.

Pennsylvania very well could be the nation's leading producer of biodiesel within the year, going from practically nowhere a year ago to a projected 40- million gallons of annual production. The state also contains enough plant matter to produce in excess of 500 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year.

In 2004, Governor Rendell signed into law an act that expanded the Alternative Fuel Incentive Grants program to include an incentive to buy down the incremental cost of purchasing biofuels for local governments and nonprofit entities, and a reimbursement of up to 5 cents per gallon for Pennsylvania producers of biodiesel and ethanol produced for use as transportation fuel.

AFIG also offers user-friendly rebates instead of grants to residents who purchase hybrid electric vehicles. This year, Governor Rendell doubled the hybrid vehicle rebate program to $3 million. Since its inception in 1992, AFIG has awarded $28.7 million for 984 projects in 50 counties, leveraging more than $78 million from public and private fleet operators, fuel providers and the federal government. More AFIG investments are expected to be announced later this week.

The nation's first coal gasification-liquefaction plant is being built in northeastern Pennsylvania. The facility will use waste coal to produce 40- million gallons of clean-burning diesel fuel each year. What the Governor is doing to support the project is unprecedented, creating a fuel consortium with private industry to purchase nearly all of the offtake. Pennsylvania will lock in its supply for some 10 years at prices well below current market values and ensure a long-term, viable market for the plant.

Pennsylvanians now spend some $30 billion per year on imported energy fuels. Instead of spending overseas, Governor Rendell is investing at home and putting Pennsylvanians to work.

Brought back to life after years of inactivity, the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority has awarded $21 million in grants and loans for 57 clean energy projects that will leverage $240 million in private investment. The projects will create 975 permanent and construction jobs.

The Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant Program has awarded $21 million and leveraged another $51.9 million in private funds since its inception in May 2003 for projects using sources such as wind, solar, biomass, waste coal and recycled energy.

For more information, visit DEP's Web site at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/, Keyword "Energy."

CONTACT: Charlie Young

(717) 787-1323

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

CONTACT: Charlie Young, Pennsylvania Department of EnvironmentalProtection, +1-717-787-1323

Web site: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/

Source: PRNewswire

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