Managing the green initiative, funded through the Federal Stimulus package, in Northwestern Pennsylvania falls into three distinct areas, weatherization, the development of the Northwest Pennsylvania Green Economy Taskforce (NW PAGE) and the creation of a regional
The first of these initiatives is weatherization. This program provides approximately $252,000,000 for the weatherization of 70,000 lower-income homes in the region. The Northwestern Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board will administer approximately $20,000,000 to establish a training center capable of providing a certification program for companies providing weatherization services. This certification program will extend to business providing these services commercially and to residences of person who are not low-income. The program should initially generate 50-70 new jobs.
The second of the green initiatives is NW PAGE. In February of 2009, Representative Kathy Dahlkemper conducted a summit on green initiatives. NW PAGE was formed as an interest group wanting to research and promote green initiatives in the region following this conference. NW PAGE has grown to a membership of nearly 50 individuals representing Private Industry, Workforce Development, Economic Development, Chambers of Commerce, Community Development Non-Profits, Environmental Non-Profits, and State Agencies. The Northwest Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board facilitated the development of a strategic plan for the group.
The plan outlines four goals:
Goal #1: Promote the development of a state of the art, accessible training provider system for green workforce training focusing on all segments of the population including the unemployed and underemployed.
Goals #2: Maximize the capacity of the partnering organizations and companies to promote the NW PAGE Strategic Plan through a single sustainable partnership organization (NW PAGE).
Goals #3: Promote the development of green jobs that pay family sustaining wages in Northwest PA by utilizing assets of NW PAGE partners.
Goal #4: Promote regional accomplishments within private sector and university technology innovations to validate Northwest PA as a leader of the green movement.
The initiative is patterned in part after a similar initiative in the Raleigh/Durham area of North Carolina which is establishing itself as “the Research Triangle.” Kathy Feeney from the Clean Air Council in Philadelphia and Nick Hoffmann are facilitating this group.
The final initiative for which Nick has responsibility is in the formative stages. The concept is to create a Pennsylvania Center for Green Careers, similar to the Pennsylvania Center for Healthcare Careers. This Center would be located in Harrisburg under the direction of the State Workforce Investment Board. The Center would be funded through a Federal grant through the stimulus act, which has been applied for. The grant application incorporates Northwestern Pennsylvania, based on the resources which the region can devote to green initiatives.
NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA: A GREEN INITIATIVE RESOURCE CENTER
In order to include the Northwest Pennsylvania region in the state’s grant application for a Center for Green Careers, Nick and representatives of two energy manufacturers travelled to Harrisburg to present the region’s credentials for inclusion in the grant application. One of the companies that were represented was Lake Erie Biofuels, now known as HEROBX. Their representative was Scott Newell. Also participating was Lisa DiFrancisco of Northcoast Energy Systems. HEROBX is the leading producer of Biodiesel in the Northeastern United States. They state that they can be trusted for excellent, competitively-priced B100 and B99.9 direct from their state-of-the art plant in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Their Desmet Ballestra designed continuous-flow technology represents the vanguard in industry processing methods. They promise fuels you can trust; every shipment, every day.
On-site laboratory facilities for ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 testing assure you that in all recognized uses and weather conditions their biodiesel will not only consistently meet, but will surpass, accepted industry standards for performance and quality.
Northcoast Energy Systems, located in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the area's certified dealer/installer for Bergey WindPower, Abundant Renewable Energy, and Wind Turbine Industries Corp. We are highly-qualified and happy to provide service at every step - from the first phone call to the final connection of your renewable energy system. The goal of North Coast Energy Systems is to provide quality equipment and service to each and every customer, as well as provide support and education for both our customers and for the community.
Resources located in Northwestern Pennsylvania that justify its inclusion in the grant application were presented by this delegation.
Northwest PA has several distinct characteristics that are relevant to the development of a green economy and green jobs in the region. First and foremost the region is home to approximately 50 miles of coast along Lake Erie. There is a substantial amount of commercial and residential wind that can be harvested along the lake shore as well as by mounting wind turbines in the lake itself. These installations are feasible because the the average water depth is only 62 feet in Lake Erie, compared to a range of 195 feet to 483 feet in the other great lakes. (Cleveland and Buffalo have been exploring and moving this opportunity forward already. No one has completed a turbine in the water yet)
Lake Erie also provides access to transporting large items anywhere in the world without the difficulties that moving these large objects via roadways poses. For example a 200 foot wind turbine blade could be shipped anywhere in the world via the St. Lawrence Seaway from Northwest PA without almost any road transportation. Also, domestic shipping to the Great Lakes Region (High Prospect for Wind Development) and the Plains States (High Prospect for Wind Development) can be accessed by shipping west through the Great Lakes and down the Mississippi River via the Illinois River as well as international shipping to Canada through the lakes. Companies wishing to transport smaller items across land could utilize I-90 or I-80 for those shipping needs as well.
Northwest PA is a center for manufacturing companies in the plastics, metals and electronics industry with a workforce that could be readily adapted to manufacturing products for renewable energy sources.
Northwest PA is also home to the first Interstate Workforce Investment Region, with West Central WIA joining together with neighboring WIA’s in Ohio. Northwest WIA is following suit to create the first Tri-State Workforce Investment Region bringing together neighboring WIA’s from New York and Ohio. This cooperative effort could become especially integral in the development of Wind Energy initiatives along the lake shore in all three states.
Northwest PA is also home to the largest Biofuels producer in PA and has a substantial amount of activity in the Biomass discipline. This expertise will provide opportunities in both manufacturing and agriculture.
NW PAGE began in February 2009 as a group of industry experts interested in advancing green initiatives in Northwest PA. Since then the group has grown to over 50 members (members represent workforce development, economic development, chambers of commerce, private sector renewable energy companies, private sector weatherization and energy conservation companies, energy efficiency consultants, environmental nonprofits, DEP, unions, and other nonprofits).
This organization is engaged in the:
- Development of a Pre-Apprenticeship Program for Building Trades, focusing on developing a pipeline for Green Building in the region.
- Provide training program for manufacturing companies in the region to train workers on energy efficient practices in order for business to promote themselves as being energy conscious.
- Provide training for emerging Alternative Energy Companies for both Incumbent Workers and potential new hires. This is especially important in an emerging evolving industry.
- Through partnerships, advance the region’s green agenda, by attracting new businesses, new careers, new technology, and a new image of the region for this industrial sector.
