Renewable Energy Center

Larger Users

REC's Renewable Energy Rules of Thumb:

CFL Bulb Energy efficiency - the most cost effective approach is to begin with energy efficiency. The Environmental Management Assistance Program provides free energy assistance to small businesses in PA.

What resource should I use?

Geothermal heating and cooling systems provide constant humidity and comfortable temperatures while using only enough electricity to power a blower that sends the warm or cool air throughout the building.

Hydro is often cost effective but requires running water on your property.

If you don't have running water on your property, see if you have good wind resource.

Solar - there are many different ways to use solar from passive space heating to water heating to electricity generation.

Biomass - can provide heat or electricity or power transportation.

If you are interested in pursuing wind, we have answers to frequently asked questions here.

	Anemometer Loan Program-Community Wind Project The Renewable Energy Center runs Pennsylvania’s anemometer loan program. This program allows landowners to learn if their site has commercial wind potential. If our pre-feasibility analysis indicates that there is commercial wind potential at the site we will measure the resource for a minimum of 12 months, analyze the data, extrapolate the data to different heights, and report the amount of power that would have been generated over that period with a variety of wind turbines. The cost of this service is $30,000 and includes the installation and decommissioning of the meteorological tower and other equipment. The Community Wind Project is for community and business leaders with a serious interest in working on behalf of their business, farm, school, or municipality for a prosperous and healthy future. Successful applicants will have a 50-meter meteorological tower installed at their site for a 12-month preliminary feasibility study. Learn more about the project here.
	Pennsylvania Wind Maps Wondering if you have good wind resources? Check out our wind maps to see what type of resource you may have at your site.
	Financing DSIRE: Check out this site to learn about incentives and policies for renewable and efficiency in Pennsylvania and other states. A Review of Feasible Financing Structures for Community Wind Projects in Pennsylvania [pdf] How a project will be financed, owned, and operated can be just as critical to success as wind resource. This study examines financing and ownership structures that can be used for community wind projects in Pennsylvania and discusses the financial model used by the Center to assess the economics of various community wind ownership structures. The USDA has programs to assist rural users finance energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
	Case Studies Tribal Energy and Environmental Information - Case Studies and General Information Windustry - Community Wind Projects Hull Wind Project World Resources Institute - Johnson & Johnson's Switch to Biomass Southern Arizona Regional Solar Partnership - Solar Case Studies Geothermal Exchange Organization - Case Studies DEP Cambria Office Building - Case Study

Quotes

"St. Francis University's meteorological tower and performance data helped Blue Mountain Ski Area turn a nice idea into a defendable business proposition. Without their program, the project might still be just a nice idea."
Phil Jones - EMS Environmental

"Through your program we were able to identify our resources and maximize the potential for previously unutilized land."
Lynn Falatko - Freeland Municipal Authority

"As a board member interested in the possible construction of a wind turbine, we do not have the expertise in this area to make an educated decision and we rely on the services of the REC to guide us through this process. Without the funding provided through the REC we would not be able to pursue this venture."
Tony Caputo - Greater Johnstown Water Authority

Saint Francis University