Bucknell University Dedicates 1.76 MW Solar Energy Facility In Union County

By Michael Taromina, The Bucknellian

On October 6, Bucknell University formally dedicated its new 1.76 MW solar energy facility in Union County.  The article first appeared in The Bucknellian on October 7, 2022--

Bucknell University is known for many things—stellar academics, superb facilities and superior athletics, but one aspect of the college that is increasing in size and scope is the campus’ focus on green and renewable energy. 

On October 6 Bucknell University hosted a public dedication of the 1.76 peak megawatt solar array on the project site between Bucknell Golf Club and Art Barn Complex off of Smoketown Road, along with their partner Encore Renewable Energy of Burlington, Vt. 

The event celebrated the operation of the array, which will supply up to seven percent of the University’s electricity and will move Bucknell a step closer to achieving climate neutrality goals, such as being carbon neutral by 2030. 

“We expect the project to be complete and producing power by the end of October,” said James Knight, Energy and Utilities Specialist. “It is 99% complete, but we are waiting for one piece of electrical equipment to be delivered due to supply chain issues. It took several years of design, permitting, and construction to get to this point.”

Dedication speakers will include Bucknell President John Bravman; Chad Farrell ’92, founder and CEO of Encore Renewable Energy; Bucknell student Colton Jiorle ’25, Bucknell project manager and an East Buffalo Township supervisor; and a representative from Greenbacker Capital Management, which has provided funding for the project. They will also participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“The project will help marginally reduce the University’s carbon footprint and supply power at a lower cost than purchasing from the grid,” according to Knight.

Encore Renewable Energy is a community-scale renewable energy project developer. Founded in 2007 as Encore Redevelopment, their team specializes in the design and construction of solar and energy storage projects on open land. 

In addition to achieving Bucknell sustainability goals, the project will enhance opportunities for renewable-energy focused teaching and research across multiple disciplines.

 It will additionally generate property tax revenues to East Buffalo Township, provide Bucknell with price certainty on energy rates for the next several decades and strengthen the region’s commitment to the production and use of renewable energy.

“Completing this solar array has been a long process, requiring the efforts of numerous people,” Knight said. “The clean, renewable energy it contributes to the grid will benefit both the University and the local community. It also provides a great opportunity for student education and research in this rapidly expanding field.”

The location for the array provides prime sun exposure and is not in close proximity to residential properties. The project consists of south-facing panels tilted at 25 to 30 degrees, with a maximum height of nine feet. 

The seven acre array of panels are surrounded with an agricultural fence to ensure safety. The site has also been replanted with pollinator friendly vegetation between the panels to attract bees, butterflies and other species critical to future food security.

According to Knight, several classes have already toured the site to learn more about renewable energy development. He expects there will be many opportunities for teaching and research for our students, but nonetheless, it is already making an impact on the undergraduates just through its concoction.

“As a Bucknell University graduate, I am proud to see my alma mater advancing this important project,” said Farrell. “This project is an example of how Bucknell is leading the way among academic institutions in both decarbonization as well as providing avenues for hands-on learning for students poised to enter the clean energy workforce.”

[To learn more about the University’s sustainability initiatives, visit Bucknell University’s Sustainability webpage.]

(Reprinted from The Bucknellian.)

NewsClips:

-- TribLive: Fox Chapel Amends Ordinance To Make It Easier To Use Solar Panels

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: PA Must Modernize Its Approach To Clean Energy Or Risk Falling Further Behind - By Vote Solar, POWER Interfaith

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-- Penn State Oct. 24 EarthTalks Highlights Agricultural Integration And Solar Facilities - Agrivoltaics In Context  [PaEN]

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[Posted: October 20, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

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Friday PA Environment & Energy NewsClips 10.21.22

Are You Telling Your Story?

Senate returns to session October 24, 25, 26, November 15 [Adjourn for year]

     -- Committee Schedule

House returns to session October 24, 25, 26, November 14, 15, 16 [Adjourn for year]

     -- Committee Schedule

TODAY’s Calendar Of Events 

 

-- DEP Posts Formal Notice Of Availability Of Abandoned Mine Land, Mine Drainage Grants

 

-- DEP Begins Accepting Applications For $103.4 Million In Abandoned Mine Reclamation Grants Starting Oct. 24  [PaEN]

 

-- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Award $3.5 Million In Grants To Restore, Protect Habitats In Chesapeake Bay Watershed; 4 In PA Totalling $1.48 Million  [PaEN]

-- Celebrating 10 Years Of Volunteers Impact - Greening The Lower Susquehanna - By Kristen Koch, Penn State Agriculture & Environment Center  [PaEN]

-- East Lampeter Twp. First Municipality To Partner With Lancaster Revolving Water Fund On Pay-For Performance Contract On Improving Water Quality, Soil Carbon Sequestration  [PaEN

-- Penn State Master Watershed Steward Volunteers Lead Stream Assessment In Allegheny County  [PaEN]

-- Altoona Mirror: DEP Extends Deadline To Comply With MS4 Stormwater Regulation To Municipalities In Blair County Group

-- Coalition For The Delaware River Watershed Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Federal Clean Water Act  [PaEN]

-- PUC Joins 8th Annual ‘Imagine A Day Without Water’ To Raise Water Awareness 

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Oct. 21 RiverWatch Video Report 

-- Environmental Hearing Board Publishes Final Regulations Making Changes To Practice & Procedures

-- October 22 Pennsylvania Bulletin Now Available

-- EPA To Host Public Discussion Of Exide Superfund Cleanup Oct. 25 At Muhlenberg H.S. Reading, Berks County.  6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

-- Bucknell University Dedicates 1.76 MW Solar Energy Facility In Union County - By Michael Taromina, The Bucknellian  [PaEN]

-- Penn State To Host Virtual International Symposium Nov. 28-29 On Embodied Carbon - Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Building Materials

-- TribLive: Penn Hills Council Recognizes Anti-Litter Group

-- WeConservePA: Help To Apply For DCNR Fall Grants, Redevelopment Assistance Capital Funding And More  [PaEN]

-- DCNR Issues 4th Weekly Fall Foliage Report Showing Fall Colors All Across Pennsylvania  [PaEN]

-- WHYY: How To Enjoy Philly’s Fall Foliage From A Tree Nerd

-- DCNR Plans Whitewater Release Into Tohickon Creek For Nov. 5-6 Boating Event In Bucks County

-- Williamsport Sun: Williamsport Invests In Parks: No City Can Thrive Without A Network Of Safe, Functioning Parks And Open Spaces

-- Fish & Boat Commission Quarterly Board Meeting Oct. 24

-- Fish & Boat Commission Accepting Grant Applications For Recreational Boat Pumpout Stations, Reception Facilities, Deadline Dec. 30

 

6th Oil/Natural Gas Spike: True Energy Independence Means Renewables

[There Is No Limit To What Oil/Natural Gas Industry Can Make You Pay]

 

-- Patch.com: Winter Heating Costs Spike: How Much More Will PA Residents Pay? 

 

-- MCall/AP: Sharp Prices Increases Projected For Home Heating This Winter; Natural Gas Customers To Pay Biggest Increase

 

-- National Energy Assistance Directors Assn: Home Heating Costs Reach Highest Level In More Than 10 Years; Natural Gas Cost Increases Alone Mean Homeowners Will Pay $13.1 Billion More This Winter

 

-- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Winter Assessment: Natural Gas Exports, Lower Gas Storage Are Driving Natural Gas Prices Higher 

 

-- AP: U.S. Heating Worries Mount Amid Growing Costs, Uncertainty

 

American Rescue Plan Funding

 

-- $11 Billion In Federal American Rescue Plan Funding To PA State Government, Local Governments Has Yet To Be Invested.  What’s Your Community Doing?

 

Other States/National/International

-- Environmental Health News: For First Time, Natural Gas Production Linked To Lower Birth Weights In A National Study, Most Significant In Black, Asian Women

-- AP:  Study: Cancer-Causing Natural Gas Leaking From Stoves, Pipes

-- NYT: Oil & Gas Lobbyists Plan For Republican U.S. House, Focus On Undercutting Shift Away From Natural Gas For Home Heating

-- Reuters: Automakers To Double Spending On Electric Vehicles, Batteries To $1.2 Trillion By 2030

PA Politics - Everything Is Connected

-- York Daily Record: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Says He’ll Bus Illegal Immigrants To Biden’s Home In Delaware; PA Will Not Be A ‘Sanctuary State’ 

-- Inquirer: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Will Again Flirt With QAnon Crowd At Lancaster ReAwaken America Rally 

-- Spotlight PA: 11 Voters On Candidates For Governor, U.S. Senate And Why Some Are Still Undecided

-- Politics PA: Fox 29 Poll: PA U.S. Senate Race Too Close To Call, Governor Tightening

-- AP: Dr. Oz Made His Reputation As A Surgeon, A Fortune As A Salesman

-- AP: Biden Stumps For Fetterman, Says ‘World Is Looking’

-- MCall: Where’s Money Coming From In Lehigh Valley Congressional Race?

-- TribLive: PA Casino Revenue Jumps To $448 Million In September

-- Post-Gazette/Capitolwire.com: IRRC Approves Medical Marijuana Regulations After Lengthy Debate

-- Post-Gazette: Looming Cut To Pharmacy Network Angers Western PA Veterans, Pharmacists

-- Inquirer: There Are 400,000 People In Philly With Convictions And Criminal Records, Expungement Clinics Can Offer A Fresh Start

-- Inquirer: 17-Year-Old Arrested In Fatal Shootings Of 2 Other Teens In Montgomery County

-- Scranton Times: Fmr Attorney General Kane Seeks Dismissal Of DUI Case

-- Inquirer: 5 PA Alcohol Laws That Can Get You In Trouble

-- Inquirer: Philadelphia Officials Threaten To Sue Gov. Wolf Over ‘Nightmare’ Conditions Inside Juvenile Facility

-- City & State PA: Potential For High School Athletes Selling Their Name, Image And Likenesses

-- York Dispatch: Ex-Principal Of Lincoln Charter School Admits He Took Money For Fake Ph.D. Classes

-- Post-Gazette: Survey: Political Expression On Campus, Employee Engagement Are Areas Of Concern At State-Owned Universities

-- Post-Gazette: Lawsuit Seeks To Force Allegheny County To resume Assessment Appeal Hearings

-- AP: Biden Touts Pittsburgh Bridge As Infrastructure Win

-- NPR: Federal Judge Dismisses Republican-led State’s Lawsuit To Block Student Loan Forgiveness Plan

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[Posted: October 21, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

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DEP Sets Nov. 30 Virtual Hearing On Interim Response To Keim Street DCE Hazardous Site Cleanup In Montgomery County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 22 PA Bulletin of Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act Interim Response related to 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE) contamination at the Keim Street Site in Lower Pottsgrove Twp., Montgomery County.  (PA Bulletin, page 6606)

The Site is located near the intersection of North Keim Street and Buchert Road. The Site consists of primarily residential properties with a few commercial properties nearby. 

Of the twenty-two properties that have been sampled in the area, one residential well has been affected by 1,1-dichloroethene (1,1-DCE) above its Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). 

This resident has been provided bottled water service until the carbon filtration system can be installed.

DEP has scheduled a virtual public hearing on the response for November 30 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Individuals who wish to present testimony at the virtual hearing must email John Repetz at  jrepetz@pa.gov a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the hearing to reserve a time to present testimony; a link will be provided upon registration.

For those wishing only to listen, access information to the hearing will be posted to DEP’s Virtual Public Hearing webpage.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more information. PA Bulletin, page 6606)

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter, sign up for DEP Connects events, sign up for DEP’s eNotice, visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

[Posted: October 21, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

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DEP Reinstates Sales Of Electronic Devices By 3 Manufacturers Now In Compliance With PA’s Electronic Waste Recycling Law

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the October 22 PA Bulletin that it is allowing the sale of electronic devices from Visual Land Inc., Contixo and Linsay Digital because they are now in compliance with the state’s electronics waste recycling Covered Device Recycling Act. (PA Bulletin, page 6623)

Sales of electronic devices by Azulle Tech, Gigabyte Technology and Evervue USA, Inc. are still banned in Pennsylvania for noncompliance with the Covered Device Recycling Act.  Read more here.

Under state law, manufacturers of new covered devices-- such as televisions, laptop and desktop computers, tablets, etc.-- offered for sale in Pennsylvania are required to register with the Department prior to offering those devices for sale under Section 304 of the Covered Device Recycling Act.

Manufacturers must also pay an annual registration fee and submit a recycling plan and annual report.

Section 302 of the CDRA prohibits the sale of covered devices in the Commonwealth by unregistered manufacturers.

Click Here for a list of registered manufacturers.

For more information on this program, visit DEP’s Electronics Waste Recycling webpage.  Questions about this action can be directed to Jordan Hoover, Bureau of Waste Management by email to: jorhoover@pa.gov or 717-783-8973.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter, sign up for DEP Connects events, sign up for DEP’s eNotice, visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

Related Article:

-- DEP Bans Sale Of Electronic Devices Made By 4 Manufacturers Not Complying With PA’s Electronic Waste Recycling Law

[Posted: October 21, 2022]  PA Environment Digest

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