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PA DEP Offers Statewide Workshops to Help Business Owners Cut Energy Costs

Posted on: Monday, 13 March 2006, 09:00 CST

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Environmental Protection will provide half-day workshops this spring to help owners of small and medium-sized businesses in Pennsylvania reduce energy costs and increase profits.

"Small and medium-sized businesses have little room in their budgets for increased expenses," DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. "With recent record-high oil and natural gas prices, we want to make sure Pennsylvania businesses take advantage of every opportunity to conserve energy, save money and remain competitive."

DEP's Office of the Small Business Ombudsman is partnering with the Electrotechnology Application Center at Northampton Community College's Center for Business and Industry to provide the energy management workshops.

Each workshop will offer business owners information on energy supply options, illustrate how to identify energy cost-saving opportunities and explain how to initiate an energy management program. Particular emphasis will be given to easily implemented, cost-effective changes for small commercial and industrial facilities.

Registration for the workshops is free, and the sessions are open to the general public. Local government officials also are encouraged to attend.

The workshops will be held on the following dates at these locations: -- April 18 at DEP's Southeast Regional Office, 2 E. Main St., Norristown, Montgomery County. -- April 25 at ETAC (Northampton Community College), 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem, Northampton County. -- May 2 at DEP's Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, Dauphin County. -- May 9 at DEP's Southwest Regional Office, 400 Waterfront Dr., Pittsburgh, Allegheny County. -- May 11 at the North Central PA Regional Planning and Development Commission, 651 Montmorenci Road, Ridgway, Elk County.

"These workshops will demonstrate to small business owners how to implement measures that can reduce energy usage at their business, save on energy costs, improve the environment and boost their bottom lines," McGinty said.

DEP's Office of the Small Business Ombudsman provides assistance to small businesses needing help with environmental issues and helps owners realize the potential cost savings of pollution prevention and energy conservation strategies.

ETAC manufacturers evaluate and integrate electrotechnologies that will increase productivity, minimize environmental impact and improve energy efficiencies.

Funding for the Energy Management Workshops is provided through a U.S. Department of Energy grant.

For more information or to request a registration form, contact DEP at 717-783-8411 or visit DEP's Web site at http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/, Keyword: "Ombudsman."

CONTACT: Charlie Young, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, +1-717-787-1323.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

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

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

Source: PRNewswire

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