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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Todd A. Eachus |
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Eachus: Romark Logistics to receive $2.1 million Solar Energy Program grant
HARRISBURG, Dec. 18 – State Rep. Todd A. Eachus, D-Luzerne, announced today that Romark Logistics of PA has been awarded more than $2.1 million in state funding to assist in developing a solar energy system for its warehouse and distribution facility located in Hazle Township.
Eachus said funding for this grant came from the Solar Energy Program, which promotes the use of alternative energy throughout the state. The program is administered jointly by the state departments of Community and Economic Development and Environmental Protection under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority, an independent agency that evaluates and administers funding for projects that create jobs and invest in the state’s financial growth.
"It is vital that we encourage our businesses to become more energy efficient and to invest in alternative energy technologies so that we can reduce our reliance on foreign fuels," Eachus said. "Romark has stated that they are committed to reducing their carbon footprint and gaining some control over electricity rate inflation, as well as improving economic development and job creation in our area."
According to Romark, over the course of the construction and installation, the solar energy project will create 20 new, full-time, "green collar" jobs for Pennsylvania firms. And based on federal Environmental Protection Agency estimates, the project would eliminate 4.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. That’s equivalent to removing 360 cars from Pennsylvania roads each year, or planting 449 acres of trees.
Eachus added that Romark Logistics has invested more than $7.4 million in the solar energy project, which equates to around 77 percent of the total cost to install the rooftop photovoltaic power system on the 525,000-square-foot facility located in the Humbolt Industrial Park.
"Humbolt Industrial Park is one of the largest industrial parks in Pennsylvania," Eachus said. "Romark's solar energy project could become a model for other Humbolt tenants and enhance our efforts at the state level to show the positive impacts that solar energy and other alternative energy sources could have for businesses and for local economies."
The Commonwealth Financing Authority administers and finances projects included in the H2O PA Program. The CFA also oversees the state's Building PA program, Business in Our Sites program, PennWorks, New PA Venture Capital Investment, New Pennsylvania Venture Guarantee, Tax Increment Financing Guarantee and Second Stage Loan programs.
Each of these programs is aimed at using targeted state investment to attract private capital for economic development in all regions of the state and for all types of industries. To find out more about CFA programs, visit www.newpa.com.
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