TMI Update: Jan 14, 2024

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/16/2010

CONTACT:
John Repetz, Department of Environmental Protection
717-787-1323

HARRISBURG -- State investments are helping Pennsylvania small-business owners continue to lower their operating costs by conserving energy and reducing pollution, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said today.

Hanger announced that 90 small businesses across the state will receive more than $560,000 in grants through the Small Business Advantage program to reduce energy use and pollution, enabling them to become more competitive.

"Small-business owners face many challenges including how to reinvest their hard-earned dollars," said Hanger. "In recent years, a growing number of small-business owners have realized that investing in projects that reduce pollution and energy use produce immediate and long-term positive results. Owners can improve their bottom lines, allowing them to make significant investments in their own futures, and the economic and environmental future of Pennsylvania, as well."

Pennsylvania's Small Business Advantage program provides small businesses (those with fewer than 100 employees) with 50-percent matching reimbursement grants of up to $7,500 to implement projects that will save at least 20 percent annually in pollution prevention or energy-related costs. Since 2004, the Small Business Advantage Grant program has invested $6.7 million in 1,220 small businesses.

Examples of eligible projects include HVAC and boiler upgrades, high-efficiency lighting, solvent recovery and waste recycling systems, and auxiliary power units that help large trucks reduce time spent with idling engines.

The 90 projects in 40 counties will receive a total of $564,291 and leverage an additional $1.1 million in private investments. In the first year, they will have a cumulative savings of $521,782 in operating expenses related to reductions in energy and pollution. The savings include:

• 1.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity--enough to power 130 homes;
• 110,421 therms of natural gas;
• 28,000 gallons of propane;
• 26,000 gallons of kerosene and fuel oil; and
• 40,741 gallons of diesel fuel.

In addition, the projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly five million pounds, equivalent to the total energy used by 190 homes or removing 425 passenger vehicles from the roads.

Governor Rendell has initiated several other programs to assist small business owners. The Alternative Energy Investment Act he signed into law in July 2008, created the Small Business Energy Efficiency program, which provides a 25 percent reimbursement grant up to $25,000 to help small businesses acquire equipment or adopt processes that promote energy efficiency. The program has awarded $2.3 million to 214 small businesses.

The Investment Act also created the Sunshine Solar program, which reimburses small business owners and homeowners up to 35 percent of the purchase and installation costs of solar energy technology. To date, this program has allocated more than $44 million to 664 businesses to install solar energy technology. These projects will generate 59 megawatts of electricity, or enough annually to power 7,000 average homes in Pennsylvania.

"These financial incentives have made energy-conserving and pollution-reducing technologies more affordable to a greater number of small business owners in the state,” said Hanger. "These types of projects can make a business more productive and more profitable -- a combination that is good for the company, the employees, the economy and the environment."

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us or call 717-783-8411.

Media contact: John Repetz, 717-787-1323

Editor’s Note: Below is a list of the $564,291 in Small Business Advantage Grants, listed by county.

Allegheny
Wojanis Supply Company Inc. - $5,566 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Colteryahn Dairy - $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient process equipment to conserve energy and resources.

Pearce Mill LLC - $5,912 to purchase and install a high efficiency boiler to conserve energy.

Tana Ethiopian Cuisine LLC - $6,625 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Allegra Print and Imaging - $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lightning to conserve energy.

Armstrong
Martin Luffey Autobody - $7,500 to purchase and install an efficient painting system to reduce paint waste.

Beaver
Acutan LP - $5,525 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Bedford
Vacuum Processes Inc. - $6,577 to purchase and install upgraded efficient heating, lighting and insulation to conserve energy.

Singing Brook Farms - $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient process equipment to conserve energy.

Bradford
Leona Meat Plant Inc. - $5,849 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Bucks
SCB Karate LLC - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded insulation.

The Olde Stone Church Inc. (DBA Marsha Brown Restaurant) - $7,500 for the purchase and installation of a high efficiency water heater.

Schmoocky’s Laundromat - $4,960 to purchase and install two high efficiency tankless water heaters to conserve energy.

Carbon
Weatherly Casting & Machine Company - $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient process equipment to conserve energy and resources.

Centre
Capparella Furniture - $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Formalities by Tracina Fisher - $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Nittany Summit Wash Partners - $5,161 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Clarion
C&A Trees Unlimited - $7,500 to purchase and install greenhouse energy curtain to conserve energy.

Clearfield
Summit Car Wash Inc. /Your Favorite Car Wash Inc. - $5,865 to purchase and install efficient lightning to conserve energy.

B.G. Foster Trucking - $4,475 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.

Clinton
Rapmitco Properties - $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Crawford
Cox and Kanyuck Electric LLC - $5,065 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Holbrook Tool and Molding - $5,936 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Lincoln Metal Processing Company Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install process equipment to prevent pollution.

Dauphin
Appalachian Brewing Company Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Elk
Innovative Sintered Metals Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Erie
George Ko Industries Inc. - $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient process equipment to conserve energy and resources.

Molly Brannigans-Erie - $538 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Erie East Market Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Fayette
Pleasant Trucking Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install three auxiliary power units in long-haul trucks to eliminate idling during layovers.

Franklin
About Your Wedding - $6,733 to purchase and install efficient lighting, insulation and hearing, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Route 5 Retail Stores - $271 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Cherpat - $4,176 to purchase and install a new high efficiency dishwasher to conserve energy and water.

Wayne Building Company Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install hearing, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades and a commercial printer to conserve energy.

WCW Tennis - $4,522 to purchase and install efficient lighting  to conserve energy.

Washington Franklin Developers Inc. - $2,925 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Souders Industries Inc. - $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Huntingdon
MAT Plaza LLC - $3,520 to purchase and install high efficiency furnace to conserve energy.

Brick House Gym - $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Jefferson
Premier Graphics LLC (DBA Nupp Printing) - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded lighting and insulation to conserve energy.

Cathedral Pines (DBA Gateway Lodge) - $7,500 to purchase install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Barber Trucking Inc. - $5,740 to purchase and install two auxiliary power units in long-haul trucks to eliminate idling during layovers.

Lackawanna
Homeowner Resource Center Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded installation.

John F. Bushta DPM PC - $7,500 for the purchase and installation of dental digital radiography equipment to conserve energy and reduce waste.

Learn and Grow Real Estate LLC - $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Lancaster
National Bearings Company - $2,975 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Lawrence
Kincade Trucking - $4,150 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.

Natale Trucking - $4,150 to purchase an install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.

Lebanon
Richard Barr - $6,457 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.

Luzerne
Blue Hen Lines Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Laflin Truck Service Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lightning to conserve energy.

Kronick Kalada Berdy & Company PC - $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lightning to conserve energy.

Lycoming
West Branch Tennis Club - $6,570 to purchase and install upgraded insulation.

Oval Country Store - $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

K. S. Bridge Inc. (DBA Bridge Tavern and Restaurant) - $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Faxon Cleaners Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install a new high efficiency washing machine and dryer to conserve energy.

KM Harmon Inc. - $7,140 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

McKean
Kane Manor Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

SMP Rx & Home Medical - Kane - $6,009 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Zook Motors Inc. - $6,161 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

W. E. Swanson Agency Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install a high efficiency boiler, lighting and insulation to conserve energy.

Dangelo's Custom Built LLC - $7,500 to purchase and install upgraded insulation and high efficiency lighting to conserve energy.

Mercer
Gary Patterson Trucking - $7,500 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.

Mifflin
Main St. Bar of Milroy Inc - $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Mifflin County Savings Bank - $3,092 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Joe Krentzman and Son Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install a high efficiency boiler to conserve energy.

Buffington Properties - $3,410 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Nittany Paper Mill Inc. - $3,450 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Montgomery
Niche Investments Limited - $7,500 to purchase and install high efficiency boiler and insulation to conserve energy.

Gwyneda Cleaners - $7,500 to purchase and install new dry cleaning machine to reduce pollution and water costs.

Indian Valley Podiatry Associates PC - $7,500 for the purchase and installation of digital radiography equipment to conserve energy and reduce waste.

Broudy Precision Equipment Company - $4,280 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

BBL Company - $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

Northampton
Nazareth Chiropractic - $7,500 for the purchase and installation of digital radiography equipment to conserve energy and reduce waste.

Northumberland
George F. Amerman - $3,030 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Perry
J & V Trucking - $5,250 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.

Philadelphia
LGD Read Estate Partners LP - $7,500 to purchase and install heating and water heating upgrades to conserve energy.

Levesque Urban LLC (DBA YIKES Inc.) - $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Pike
DooWop Express - $4,150 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.

Schuylkill
J. B. Geist inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.

Custom Gun Finishes LLC - $7,500 to purchase and install more efficient paint spray equipment to reduce pollution and associated costs.

Snyder
Fresh Roasted Coffee LLC - $7,500 for the purchase and installation of efficient process equipment to conserve energy and resources.

Ideal Family Farms - $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting, heat exchangers and insulation to conserve energy.

Union
Copper Beech Manor - $2,001 to purchase and install upgraded insulation.

Venango
Chad M. Baker - $4,150 to purchase and install auxiliary power unit in long-haul truck to eliminate idling during layovers.

Schake Industries Inc. - $4,789 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Kapp Alloy & Wire Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Klapec Auto Body - $7,500 to purchase and install heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades to conserve energy.

Wayne
Church Street Laundromat - $4,615 to purchase and install high-efficiency hot water heating equipment.

Westmoreland
Greensburg Beverage Inc. - $7,500 to purchase and install efficient lighting to conserve energy.

###

From the Patriot Ledger:

A local watchdog group has filed a new set of concerns with regulators about the relicensing of the Pilgrim nuclear power plant, a move that could cause more delays in the renewal of Pilgrim’s license.

Next month, the Plymouth plant’s relicensing will begin its sixth year. That puts it on par with Entergy Corp.’s other New England plant, Vermont Yankee in Vernon, Vt. Both plants are now tied, at five years, for the longest ongoing license renewals of any nuclear plant in the country.

Pilgrim Watch founder Mary Lampert said her group filed a new contention with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Monday, asking a three-judge panel overseeing the license renewal to hold a hearing on the impact that a wet environment could have on underground power lines. “I’m not saying don’t relicense them,” Lampert said of Pilgrim. “I’m just saying that public health and safety has to come first.”

Read more

Download TMIA's December, 2010 Newsletter.

Summary of March 18, 2010, Meeting with Exelon to Discuss Proprietary Information

Adams Accession No. ML103350618

From MSNBC:

Want a better understanding of the world's worst nuclear disaster? Come tour the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Beginning next year, Ukraine plans to open up the sealed zone around the Chernobyl reactor to visitors who wish to learn more about the tragedy that occurred nearly a quarter of a century ago, the Emergency Situations Ministry said Monday.

Chernobyl's reactor No. 4 exploded on April 26, 1986, spewing radiation over a large swath of northern Europe. Hundreds of thousands of people were resettled from areas contaminated with radiation fallout in Ukraine, Belarus and Russia. Related health problems still persist.

The so-called exclusion zone, a highly contaminated area within a 30-mile radius of the exploded reactor, was evacuated and sealed off in the aftermath of the explosion. All visits were prohibited.

Read more

From the Burlington Free Press:

Things have looked bad for the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in the last year, just as the plant's owners were seeking permission to run it for another 20 years. Tritium found leaking from the plant in January. The revelation that company officials misled state officials about its underground piping system. An overwhelming February vote in the Senate to shut the plant down in 2012.

Then in November, the man who led that vote in the Senate was elected governor. Spells doom for the plant's future, right?

Not so fast, some say.

Read more

From the New York Times:

The federal aid now in place for new nuclear plants is far from sufficient for the so-called “nuclear renaissance” that backers are seeking, a panel made up of members of Congress, high-ranking federal officials and leaders of major nuclear companies agreed on Tuesday.

Ground has been broken on only two new nuclear plants with a total of four reactors, and some companies have withdrawn their applications for licenses to build. “We can’t make the numbers work,’’ said Chip Pardee, chief nuclear officer of Exelon, the nation’s largest operator of civilian nuclear reactors, who sat on a panel of 25 at a conference organized by the Idaho National Laboratory of the Energy Department and a private group called the Third Way.

Read more

Trenton, NJ – Governor Chris Christie today unveiled a comprehensive plan of action to address the short and long term ecological health of Barnegat Bay and deal with the cooling system at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant which has threatened the surrounding fish population.  This plan fulfills the Governor’s pledge to deal with one of his top environmental priorities and puts into action a ten point plan to clean up the Bay.  Furthermore, the plan resolves the need for a massive cooling system at Oyster Creek Generating Station by closing the nuclear power plant within nine years.

From the Brattleboro Reformer:

Gov.-elect Peter Shumlin said he wants Entergy to restart well water extraction.

In a letter addressed to Michael Colomb, site vice president for the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon, Shumlin said the decision to halt extraction was premature.

"It's not in Vermont's best interest to stop pumping water," he told the Reformer. "We have highly radioactive materials in the ground and it seems to me that it's only logical that the more we extract now, the better it will be for our health and safety."

A spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said it has asked Entergy, which owns and operates the plant, for additional information on what testing and analysis it is doing to ensure tritium is not getting into the bedrock aquifer below the site.

"We are continuing to closely monitor Entergy's activities with respect to groundwater contamination," Neil Sheehan, spokesman for the NRC wrote in an e-mail. "We have a call scheduled with plant officials for Thursday to discuss what the company is doing to better understand the latest well sampling data."

Read more

From Vermont Public Radio:

(Host) Governor-elect Peter Shumlin wants Vermont Yankee to keep pumping radioactive water from its site in Vernon.

Yankee suspended the pumping last month. But Shumlin says plant operators should resume the pumping operation to protect underground water supplies.

VPR's John Dillon reports.

(Dillon) The governor-elect said he was not satisfied with Yankee's work to remove contaminated water at the site. And he said that as of January 6th - when he takes office - he will demand action from the nuclear plant operator.

(Shumlin) "I've made clear that it's penny wise and pound foolish. I'm very concerned about it. I wish that they would turn the pumps back on. If I were governor right now, I'd be insisting that they turn the pumps back on."

(Dillon) At issue is radioactive tritium that leaked from the plant and is seeping down to bedrock toward an underground aquifer. Tests in October showed that tritium had reached a deep well on the plant grounds that had been used for drinking.

Read more