The awardees include:
Allegheny County
-- St. Teresa’s of Kolkata Parish
-- University of Pittsburgh
Butler County
-- Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania - Succop Nature Park
-- Moniteau School District
Centre County
-- Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority
-- Centre County Solar Group
-- University Mennonite Church
Dauphin County
-- Aero Corporation
Franklin County
-- Marsh Run Farm
-- Solomon's United Church of Christ
Lackawanna County
-- NEPA Youth Shelter
Lancaster County
-- Clinic for Special Children
-- Hess Brothers Fruit Company
-- Messick's Farm Equipment
Lawrence County
-- New York Blower Company
Philadelphia
-- Weaver's Way Co-op
Washington County
-- PA Trolley Museum
Westmoreland County
-- Delmont Library
-- East Vandergrift Borough
Statewide
-- Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Click Here for a PowerPoint with photos and notes on all the winners.
“The PA Solar Center is thrilled to honor so many wonderful Pennsylvania organizations who had the vision and foresight to go solar,” said Sharon Pillar, Founder and Executive Director of the PA Solar Center. “Solar is becoming an increasingly big player in the energy landscape across the country, thanks to its cost-efficiency and sustainability. But we’re not realizing its full potential in Pennsylvania due to stagnant policy. It’s our hope that the work of many people -- including those whom we’re celebrating this evening -- will help Pennsylvania take advantage of the huge economic development and jobs opportunity offered by the solar industry pipeline by raising the benefits of solar to our state’s decision makers. We have the ability to create tens of thousands of jobs if we get the policy right.”
The Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Cindy Dunn, provided the event’s keynote address, saying, “The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is using solar energy as a part of our broader commitment to sustainably managing the Commonwealth’s natural spaces. We recently celebrated our work to bring solar energy to public lands during Earth Week and we will continue to identify opportunities to invest in clean, renewable energy in line with our mission. Thank you to the Pennsylvania Solar Center and the great group of organizations committed to harnessing the sun to power operations.”
Solar energy is the fastest growing energy in the country and is saving consumers big and small thousands of dollars in utility bills.
Savings are helping businesses to hire more workers, schools to maintain teacher salaries, and nonprofits to expand their services to their communities.
Comments From Awardees
"Pennsylvania Trolley Museum is the only rail museum in the world that runs on the sun!” said Jeanine DeBor, Executive Director/CEO of the museum. “We are fortunate to have over 900 photovoltaic panels that allow us to operate buildings on 2 campuses and run our trolleys on our 2-mile track. In addition, our Swanson Solar Energy System lowers our electric bills by nearly $65,000 each year."
"We are pleased to accept the recognition from the PA Solar Center for our initiative to reduce our energy consumption at our church building, by installing solar panels in 2023 and heat pumps in 2024," said James L. Rosenberger, Treasurer of University Mennonite Church. "We have lowered our electricity cost by more than 50%, from $5,600 to about $2,500. Our creation care committee was motivated by the opportunity to make our meetinghouse more energy efficient, especially since it is used for many community events every day of the week."
“NEPA Youth Shelter looks forward to saving significant money by implementing solar energy with the help of Pennsylvania Solar Center’s G.E.T. Solar program,” said Maureen Maher-Gray, Executive Director and Founder of the shelter. “Endless Energy estimates the system will save the shelter nearly $78,856.00 over the next 25 years. We will reinvest those savings to support our mission."
“The University of Pittsburgh is honored to receive the Lodestar Award for a second year," said Aurora Sharrard, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Sustainability, University of Pittsburgh. "In addition to our 20-year solar procurement partnership with Vesper’s 20 MW Gaucho Solar farm less than 25 miles from campus, Pitt has been adding rooftop solar across buildings. In the past 12 months, Pitt’s 2 rooftop arrays reaching completion include a 68.4 kW array on Petersen Sports Complex and a 136.8 kW array on Ruskin Hall; the latter is Pitt’s first on solar on a dorm. Combined, both rooftop arrays are expected to produce 230,725 kWh of solar electricity annually, avoiding over $25,000 in utility costs annually.”
“St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish, a Catholic community located in a Pittsburgh city neighborhood, made a commitment to protecting the earth, and at the same time saving our Parish tens of thousands of dollars in utility costs that could be redirected towards social ministry programs,” said Chuck Rakaczky, Business Manager of the Parish. “Following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who saw earth as both our sister and mother, the late Pope Francis made it a hallmark of his Papacy to ask all humans to protect God's gift of the earth. His Encyclical, Laudauto Si', focuses us to ‘care for our common home.’ Our Parish is proud to be the first in the Diocese of Pittsburgh to commit to the goal of protecting our common home with our solar panel project."
"The installation of solar panels has enabled East Vandergrift Borough to make use of the dollars saved, to meet other needs within the Borough's limited budget," said Karen Virostek, President of the East Vandergrift Community Foundation. "And, East Vandergrift Borough is happy to be doing our part for the environment."
Ted Onufrak, Executive Director of Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority, said, “The CCRRA 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."
Zach King of Hess Brothers Fruit Company said, "Hess Brothers Fruit Company values sustainability. Our apple Growers have implemented various sustainable farming practices for generations. We are proud to be able to contribute to these practices and value our local community’s efforts through the use of solar energy."
"We chose solar as an aspect of our new building project to reduce long-term operational costs," said Adam Heaps, MS, MBA, Executive Director of the Clinic for Special Children. "As a non-profit, any savings can be rolled directly into ensuring our organization is fulfilling our charitable mission in a sustainable way."
“Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania is excited to accept this award, showcasing our commitment to making our organization carbon neutral and net-zero energy," said Jim Bonner, Executive Director of Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. "Our solar arrays produce more power than is used onsite at Succop Nature Park, allowing us to offset energy usage at our other properties. A reduction in fossil fuel use helps the environment to become cleaner and more sustainable for people, birds, and native wildlife."
"With the tremendous partnership of the PA Solar Center, New York Blower Company was able to operate our first fully sustainable manufacturing facility," said Tim Daniels, Vice President of Finance, New York Blower Company. "With operations in an additional five states outside of Pennsylvania, we have the vision to continue to expand our solar reach and prioritize renewable energy based on the success we have had in New Castle. We are very proud of our history and the investments we have made for more than a century in the long-term future of our business and community."
Solomon Cramer, President of Aero Corporation, said, "At Aero Corporation, we are committed to leading the way in sustainable transportation. This new facility in Harrisburg is not just an investment in our business, but also an investment in the future of our community. As we expand westward in Pennsylvania into the Pittsburgh market, we are proud to demonstrate we are committed to Pennsylvania's journey towards a greener and more sustainable tomorrow."
"We are proud to have collaborated with such a dynamic team in serving Aero's mission to bring clean, sustainable charging options to Harrisburg and the surrounding community," said Rick Frio, Managing Partner of IMC Solar, LLC. "As the largest EV charging station in Harrisburg, this project not only supports the region's growing EV infrastructure, but also represents a significant step towards a greener, more sustainable future."
Click Here for a PowerPoint with photos and notes on all the winners.
The Pennsylvania Solar Center is a nonprofit organization with the mission to expand the benefits of solar to all Pennsylvanians.
The Center offers technical assistance to non-profit organizations, businesses, and communities to help them go solar, savvy media communications and online resources for all solar stakeholders, and education for decision-makers and advocates about the benefits of robust solar policy.
The PA Solar Center provides an online directory of qualified solar developers, a map of notable solar installations, a monthly solar webinar series, and a listing of solar events happening across the state.
(Photos: PA Trolley Museum, DCNR State Park; Row 2-- Marsh Run Farm, Solomon's United Church of Church, Clinic for Special Children; Row 3-- Hess Brothers Fruit Company, Messick's Farm Equipment, Center County Recycling and Refuse Authority.)
Related Articles This Week:
-- PA Solar Center Honors 19 Organizations For Their Leadership In Going Solar [PaEN]
-- PennEnvironment: With Federal Clean Energy Rebates Under Attack, Hundreds Of Concerned Pennsylvanians Press State Lawmakers To Act [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- WHYY: Philadelphia Plans To Buy More Solar Power For Municipal Operations, Inching Closer To Climate Goals
-- Williamsport Sun Letter: Senate Bill Setting Decommissioning Requirements For Solar Energy Facilities Misplaced Compared To Other Energy Sources - By Dan Alters
-- PublicNewsService.org: PA Groups Urge US Senate To Protect Clean Energy Tax Incentives
-- PA Capital-Star: Shapiro’s Renewable Energy Plan Advances In PA House As President Keeps PA Fossil Fuel Plant Online
-- The Center Square: PA Renewable Energy Proposal Clears PA House Environmental Panel
-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: PA House Committee Advances Bill Promoting Wind, Solar, Other Renewable Energy Sources
-- Milton Standard-Journal: Abandoned Mine Pools Reimagined As Assets For Geothermal Energy, Other Uses
-- PennLive Guest Essay: Congressional Republican Budget Cuts Threaten America’s Clean Energy Future - By Stephen Herzenberg, Keystone Research Center
-- NYT: Electricity Prices Are Surging, The Republican Budget Bill Could Push Them Higher [Data Center Boom, Rising LNG Gas Exports, Cuts In Clean Energy Tax Breaks]
-- Financial Times: Texas Republicans Fail In Move To Curb Renewable Energy Projects: ‘Good Sense Prevailed’
-- Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) To Introduce Bill Amending Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards To Require 82% Of PA Electric Generation Come From ‘Non-Intermittent’ Sources [Natural Gas Promoter]
[Posted: June 5, 2025] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment