• The establishment of Green Connexions, Inc., a Pennsylvania based corporation, as a wholly-owned, for-profit subsidiary of the SEF. The mission of Green Connexions is to provide products and services through two or three renewable energy and energy efficiency business ventures within the territory of the existing PPL rate-base and expandable throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Development and implementation of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) program through which traffic and pedestrian signals are converted from costly and inefficient incandescent light bulbs to LED modules, resulting in up to 90% reduction in electricity usage and energy costs. The SEF LED program provides municipalities with a technical energy analysis and audit showing energy and dollars saved. SEF funds, via low interest financing, the cost for installation and implementation including all labor and material.
SEF guarantees that the energy savings will be greater than the associated implementation costs; thereby, reducing the cost to the taxpayer. Widespread LED use has the potential to sharply reduce harmful Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. They require less energy, which means less carbon, sulfur and nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere. Within the past few months seven municipalities have signed up for SEF’s program: Bloomsburg, Hamburg, Minersville, Muhlenberg Twp., Northampton Boro, Pottsville, and Shenandoah. Many others have expressed interest.
• A BioMass Solutions program which is a cost-effective, efficient and renewable solution for agricultural waste management and alternative energy generation. SEF plans to fund, construct, own and operate anaerobic digestion facilities and projects in Pennsylvania. In 2005 The Sustainable Energy Fund was awarded a $441,000 Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant to build an anaerobic digester and will match the grant dollar for dollar. The anaerobic digester will not only produce electricity but also by-products including bedding material, fertilizer, and various energy credits. It is estimated that 60% of all land in Pennsylvania is used for agricultural purposes. This program helps meet the challenge of responsible waste management. SEF’s BioMass program applies proven technologies that are effective in nutrient control, agricultural waste management, and Greenhouse Gas reduction.
• The Solar Scholars™ program is a first-in-the-nation solar energy educational initiative with Pennsylvania universities and colleges. This program offers undergraduate and graduate students a unique opportunity for in-depth, hands-on study, training and research in the application of photovoltaic (PV) solar technology as part of an overall academic curriculum in renewable energy. Its mission is preparing the “next generation of solar energy leaders” to make informed decisions that are science-, business- and technology-based. Six schools were selected for the initial Solar Scholars™ pilot program: Bucknell University, Clarion University, Mercyhurst College, Messiah College, The Pennsylvania State University, and Villanova University. Solar Scholars™ offers funding and incentives for students to design, build, operate and maintain a solar system of significant impact on their campus, for which they receive academic credit.
Other SEF ongoing programs include Program-Related Investments which finance and invest in economically viable, energy-related businesses, projects, and educational ventures. The focus areas of the PRI program include solar (photovoltaics, solar hot water, passive solar), wind, LEDs, biomass, heat combustion, green buildings, and other projects relating to energy efficiency, conservation and education. Over the past year some investments included the Bear Creek Wind Farm (Pocono Mountain Region), a 24-megawatt wind project developed by Community Energy which can supply enough clean, renewable energy to the Mid-Atlantic utility grid to power 5,500 homes. The Juniata County School District obtained a low interest loan for the retrofit of T-8 lamps and high efficiency electronic ballasts into 3,643 new fixtures. The SEF has been involved in Program-Related Investment projects with Kountry Kraft Kitchens, Sun Farm Ventures, Diocese of Scranton, Petersburg Commons, the Forest City School District and Londonderry School. Londonderry School was recently toured by the Danish Ambassador, the Secretary of Transport and Energy along with 30 other government and business executives as part of a visit to the United States for a Danish-American energy seminar hosted by the Embassy in Washington, DC. The Danes have shown much interest in the alternative energy agenda in Pennsylvania.