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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Barb McIlvaine Smith
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McIlvaine Smith announces West Chester University grants for
campus alternative energy projects
WEST CHESTER, Sept. 9 – State Rep. Barb McIlvaine Smith, D-Chester, announced today that the Commonwealth Financing Authority has awarded nearly $200,000 in state loans and grants to West Chester University for renewable and alternative energy projects.
"West Chester University is a valuable economic and cultural asset in our community, and its leadership in adopting alternative and clean energy practices is commendable," McIlvaine Smith said. "I was pleased to work with university and state officials so the school can continue its aggressive plan to convert its infrastructure to geothermal energy."
The university received a $195,000 Renewable Energy Program loan to purchase and install a geothermal system in West Goshen Township for the student recreation center at the corner of Sharpless and South New streets in the borough. The project is part of a $36 million initiative to convert the university's academic buildings and residence halls to geothermal heating and cooling, which will allow the university to shutter the campus steam plant in10 years.
As part of the same initiative, the school also received a $192,294 Alternative and Clean Energy grant to convert two academic buildings, Recitation Hall and Ruby Jones Hall, to geothermal heating and cooling.
The Renewable Energy Program provides grants and loans to promote geothermal and wind projects throughout Pennsylvania. The Alternative and Clean Energy Program provides grants and loans to be used for the utilization, development and construction of alternative and clean energy projects in the Commonwealth.
Both programs are administered jointly by the
state departments of Community and Economic Development and Environmental
Protection under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority. More
about CFA programs is available online at www.newpa.com.
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CONTACT: Ann Haines |