Aqua Pennsylvania Receives Environmental "Green Power" Award for Solar Farm
BRYN MAWR, Pa., Sep 16, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. (Aqua) Chairman and CEO Nicholas DeBenedictis accepted the Green Power: Turn it On! award from Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture) for the construction of a 1.0 megawatt photovoltaic solar farm at its Ingram's Mill water treatment plant in East Bradford Township, Chester County. The award was presented today at the organization's 11th annual awards ceremony.
Aqua's Ingram's Mill renewable energy project uses high-efficiency panels to convert sunlight into useful power, thereby reducing the region's power generation requirements. The $6 million project was being partially funded with a $1 million grant through the federal stimulus program which is administered through the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA).
"As a water utility, we feel privileged to receive this award for an energy project," said DeBenedictis. "And we're particularly proud to have the relevance of our solar project acknowledged with the Green Power award. Our business was created out of concern for the environment and public health so it makes perfect sense to have a sustainable clean energy source to power our water treatment plant. This project not only benefits the 25,000 West Chester area residents who Aqua serves, but a multitude of others who live in the area and also benefit from the environment-friendly features of this facility."
PennFuture's President and CEO Jan Jarrett said, "Thanks to Aqua, Pennsylvania's environment and economy has moved forward in a very concrete fashion."
The solar farm, among the largest in Pennsylvania, received the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) earlier this year. Among the benefits of the solar farm are that it:
- offsets the need for 3,000 barrels of oil each year;
- avoids the equivalent of 2.6 million car miles each year; and
- reduces CO2 emissions by 1.4 million pounds each year.
PennFuture awards recognize individuals and organizations annually for their work in promoting the clean energy economy in Pennsylvania. The Green Power: Turn it On! campaign is a multifaceted, multiyear campaign aimed at building the renewable energy market in the state.
Aqua serves approximately 1.4 million people in 30 counties throughout Pennsylvania including approximately 1 million in southeastern Pennsylvania.
WTRG
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SOURCE: Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.
Donna Alston
Director, Communications
610.645.1095
dpalston@aquaamerica.com
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