Dec 7 2009
Governor Edward G. Rendell made an announcement on 4 December, 2009 about the nine large-scale heat and power projects that are expected to generate sufficient power for 180,000 homes every year along with a reduction in the emission of carbon dioxide.
Power distribution works will be stabilized and new jobs will be created with the development of these new projects. Pennsylvania’s Green Energy Works! Program through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide more than $12 million towards the development of the combined heat and power projects (CHP).
A power capacity of about 15 megawatts will be created by these nine heat and power combined projects that will also help in generating more than 1.8 million megawatts of electricity. Efficient usage of this power will lead to an increase in the stability of local power distribution networks and electricity draws will also be reduced. Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced to more than 1.1 million tons, which is equal to the emission of greenhouse gas from 180,000 passenger vehicles.
Thermal energy and power are generated from a single fuel source through these combined heat and power projects. Heat, which is a byproduct of conventional power generation, is mostly wasted and this wasted heat is captured in the form of steam by these combined projects, which will utilize this heat to generate electricity. These nine projects are involved in recycling thermal energy so that this energy can be used to heat water and buildings.
The combined heat and power projects are expected to start within six months and they should be completed within two years before 30 April, 2012. Energy requirements by the Pennsylvanians will be fulfilled by the $52 million investment by Green Energy Works through the federal recovery funding. In future, the funding from Green Energy Works will be awarded to biomass, large-scale solar and wind projects.
Governor Rendell remarked that these projects will help in generating good returns as the waste formed during one process is used in an efficient manner in another process. Rendell stated that 23 permanent full time and part time jobs will be created along with 270 temporary vacancies. An extra investment of $15.7 million will also be made available by these projects. The combined heat and power projects according to Rendell will reduce the states dependence on foreign oil, save energy and protect the environment which will altogether enable the state to be energy independent.
Source: http://www.recovery.pa.gov