Shelocta Business Receives Energy Grant

A local business was one of the 28 local governments, schools and businesses to receive a grant for deploying technologies such as solar energy, hydropower, biomass and energy efficiency.

Shelocta-based Advanced Technologies and Land Services received a $500,000 state grant for installation of a solar array on sustainable tree farm.

The grant amount was part of the nearly- $12.5 million in Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) grants awarded by Gov. Tom Corbett

“We are supporting a more diverse and robust energy sector that protects our environment and uses our resources more efficiently,” said Gov. Corbett. “These grants will help organizations harness alternative and renewable energy to increase energy efficiency throughout Pennsylvania.”

The awarded PEDA grants will help pay for such projects as the installation of solar arrays, replacement of old heating units and street lights with more energy efficient models, and the use of biogas from wastewater systems for industrial power and heating needs.

PEDA is an independent public financing authority created in 1982 by the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority and the Emergency Powers Act. The authority’s mission is to finance clean, advanced energy projects in Pennsylvania.

Other regional projects funded include $500,000 to Alcoa in Westmoreland County to build a system to recycle deactivated electrolyte from their Aluminum-Air system and nearly the same amount to both J.V Manufacturing in Natrona Heights for next generation fuel cell component manufacturing and Hydro Green Energy for the Braddock locks and dam low-environmental impact hydropower project.