$1.8 Million Funding Opportunity Available [38 Pa.B. 1912]
[Saturday, April 19, 2008]On behalf of Governor Edward G. Rendell, Kathleen A. McGinty, Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) and Chairperson of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) announces that on April 21, 2008, PEDA will open a new solicitation. PEDA is offering grant funding to municipalities, local government authorities and first responders for energy efficiency and renewable premium power projects in the Duquesne Light Company's electric service territory and immediately adjacent areas. This funding is intended to help local governments and first responders cope with rising energy costs and to ensure a secure energy supply for critical operations.
For purposes of this financial assistance, eligible projects include energy efficiency projects with a payback period of 2-year or less, such as advanced lighting projects, and premium power projects for public infrastructure and first responders. Premium power projects may be solar energy; wind; low-impact hydropower; geothermal; biologically derived methane gas, including landfill gas; biomass energy; fuel cells; or coalmine methane. Premium power refers to projects that will provide reliable power even if conventional energy, such as the electricity grid, becomes unavailable. The total amount of available funding for this round is $1.8 million.
Under this solicitation, PEDA may award financial assistance in the form of grants of up to $100,000. Funding for projects may be used for equipment, construction, land acquisition, salaries and supplies directly related to the implementation of the project. Administrative costs are not eligible.
For grants under this solicitation, the following entities are eligible to apply: municipalities, local governmental entities and first responders.
This is a competitive solicitation and funding will be determined by vote of the PEDA Board of Directors. Guidelines and applications may be viewed and downloaded from the PEDA web site at www.depweb.state. pa.us, under ''Energy Topics.'' Applications will be accepted from April 21, 2008, through June 20, 2008.
Please note that the Department's Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program and the Energy Harvest Program will be open at the same time (see 38 Pa.B. 1886 and 38 Pa.B. 1889).
KATHLEEN A. MCGINTY,
Chairperson[Pa.B. Doc. No. 08-776. Filed for public inspection April 18, 2008, 9:00 a.m.]
