Governor Rendell Awards $150,000 Air Pollution Technology Grant to Northampton Community College
Posted on: Wednesday, 21 March 2007, 15:01 CDT
HARRISBURG, Pa., March 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today awarded $150,000 to the Electrotechnology Application Center at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Northampton County, to help small businesses, principally manufacturers, implement new electron beam technology to reduce air pollution.
"This grant will help our small manufacturers be more competitive and grow, adding jobs as they find new, affordable ways to meet air quality standards," Governor Rendell said. "My administration continues to support the development of innovative technology that helps existing businesses reduce pollution, and also positions Pennsylvania as a national leader in high-tech research and development."
The Small Business Demonstration of Air Pollution Control Program grant comes from the Clean Air Fund, which is funded by fees paid to obtain air permits. The grant is administered by the Department of Environmental Protection and it will fund demonstrations of state-of-the-art technologies using electron beams to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that are used in heating, drying, coating and curing processes.
Lab tests show electron beam technology can destroy many VOCs and do so using less energy than other methods. This grant will test the applicability of electron beams in actual factory environments.
Controlling these emissions is particularly important to companies using paints and other coatings on various manufactured products. Volatile organic compounds are precursors to the formation of ground level ozone which can cause breathing difficulties for people with existing conditions such as asthma, and can exacerbate other health problems.
The Electrotechnology Application Center is the only not-for-profit organization in Pennsylvania that has an operating mission to help small businesses reduce VOC emissions to comply with federal and state government air quality standards.
For more information on air quality issues, visit DEP's Web site at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/, Keyword: "Air Quality."
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit his Web site at: http://www.governor.state.pa.us/.
CONTACT: Barry Ciccocioppo 717-783-1116 Ron Ruman, DEP 717-787-1323
Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
CONTACT: Barry Ciccocioppo of Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,+1-717-783-1116; or Ron Ruman of DEP, +1-717-787-1323
Web site: http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/http://www.governor.state.pa.us/
Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire
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