“Social networking sites like Twitter bring people together from all over the world to discuss problems, formulate solutions, and generate powerful action,” Judge Rendell said. “We are reaching out to teachers to create an online community around the topic of civics education, inspire students to connect with their elected officials, and persuade superintendents to incorporate model programs into their curriculum.”

With the new school year under way and Constitution Day approaching on Sept. 17, Judge Rendell is sharing free, Internet-based resources for teaching civics with educators across the state and showing administrators the many programs available that are aligned with Pennsylvania’s academic standards.

“Our entire system of government is dependent on a well-informed and engaged citizenry, which is why we must promote civics education for every child,” said Judge Rendell. “Some teachers and administrators may be unsure of how best to incorporate civics education into their curricula. I would like to use the Twitter site to start a dialogue about how educators can achieve this goal.”

Judge Rendell has been active in promoting citizenship learning through her initiative, the Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy, or PennCORD, which is a unique union of educational, advocacy and governmental organizations that are committed to improving civics education for students in grades K-12. For more information about PennCORD, visit www.penncord.org.

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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses.  To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

In January 2003, Kennedy and his accomplices robbed a Rite Aid store on Girard Avenue. During the robbery, Kennedy shot the store manager, Michael Richardson, in the leg and dragged him into the office where the safes were located. Richardson was later found shot in the head and police caught Kennedy as he fled the scene.

In July 2004, a jury convicted Kennedy of first-degree murder, robbery, possessing an instrument of crime, carrying a firearm on a public street or public property in Philadelphia, and conspiracy. The jury sentenced Kennedy to death one month later. The state Supreme Court affirmed the sentence in November 2008, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Kennedy’s appeal in May 2009.

Kennedy’s execution by lethal injection is set for Oct. 22. He is held at the State Correctional Institution at Greene.

With the warrant signed today, Governor Rendell has now signed 97 death warrants.

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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses.  To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

“Broadband Internet access is as crucial to competitiveness as are skilled workers, transportation, water and energy,” Governor Rendell said. “You can’t overstate its impact on public services, local economies and quality of life. These federal dollars offer an unprecedented opportunity for Pennsylvania to extend the strides we’ve already made in making broadband available to everyone.”

Expanding reliable, affordable high-speed connectivity will preserve and create jobs, help those impacted by the recession, spur advances in science and health, and provide long-term benefits in rural and urban communities, the Governor added.

Pennsylvania’s seven applications are competing for some of the $7.2 billion available nationwide for broadband development under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA. The funds would advance the state’s existing broadband development efforts, as outlined in an aggressive strategy released in July. Applications include efforts to:

• Aggregate broadband purchases by educational facilities.
The Department of Education applied for $49.7 million toward a $113.2 million plan to connect 514 schools, libraries, colleges and universities in a seamless network to close the digital divide, in part by aggregating demand to diminish disparities in price and availability between urban and rural areas. Aggregated demand makes capital investment decisions easier for telecommunication providers.

• Extend communications infrastructure to reach un-served and underserved areas.
The state Office of Administration applied for $28.7 million toward a $35.9 million venture to extend services to a large area of northern Pennsylvania that currently is not served, or underserved, by commercial providers. It would help increase network capacity and enhance existing networks – cables, wires, towers, antennae and other microwave and land-based infrastructure – to make it more economically feasible for providers of so-called “last mile” services to reach homes, businesses and other rural customers. The proposal includes an east-west corridor between I-80 and Pennsylvania’s northern border, which includes 988,000 households in 32 counties, 202,000 businesses, 1,222 public safety agencies, 1,180 educational entities, and 255 health care facilities.

• Train educators to enhance instruction by using broadband Internet effectively.
The Department of Education applied for $12.5 million toward a $25 million project to train approximately 1,500 teachers and other education professionals on the effective use of broadband for learning, as well as to educate students, parents, school board members and community members about the value of broadband in cost-effective education.

• Help communities, businesses, first-responders and institutions effectively use broadband.
The Department of Community and Economic Development applied for $7.9 million toward a $10 million initiative that will help communities, businesses, first-responders and anchor institutions. The initiative will be carried out by 13 economic development organizations: DCED, the Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT, PennTAP at Penn State, and the state’s 10 economic development districts, which are comprised of the seven Appalachian Regional Commission-designated local development districts, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Regional Economic Development District Initiative of South-Central Pennsylvania, and the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.

• Create broadband centers at libraries, community colleges and other educational facilities.
The Department of Education applied for $5 million toward a $10 million effort to expand broadband access beyond classroom walls into libraries and community colleges. It provides equipment, software and other technology, training, technical support, management and oversight for 100 centers across the state.

• Map broadband availability and adoption throughout Pennsylvania.
Together, the Office of Administration and DCED applied for $4.5 million to build upon current efforts to map the statewide availability and adoption of broadband service. Non-proprietary information will be made public and searchable at street-address level. Pennsylvania’s legislatively mandated broadband mapping inventory, begun in 2004, was one of the first such enactments in the country. If fully funded, $4 million of this grant would be used over the next five years to gather more comprehensive and accurate state-level broadband mapping data, to develop state-level broadband maps, and to aid in the development of a national broadband map.  As part of the application, the state also requested $500,000 to perform statewide broadband planning activities and to fund statewide and regional collaboration opportunities.

• Provide broadband Internet service to veterans’ homes.
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs applied for $381,360 toward a $476,700 effort to provide access, education and training to 1,500 residents at the six state veterans’ homes. This initiative will provide eight computers and ancillary devices for each of the six veterans’ homes; offer training to residents; and provide on-site technical support and troubleshooting to make sure the broadband service and computers are maintained.

Complete applications for each of these initiatives, as well as the state’s comprehensive broadband strategy, are available at www.recovery.pa.gov. The information can also be found at www.newpa.com, keyword: Broadband initiatives.

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“The 5-percent cut to the Gaming Control Board’s appropriation concerns me. This budget requires the board to regulate potentially four new casinos – Sands Bethworks, Rivers Casino, SugarHouse Casino, and Valley Forge Convention Center – with less money than last year. That means they will be regulating nearly 40 percent more slot machines and roughly 2,600 more casino employees with 5 percent less funding.

“With such a significant cut to its budget, the board may find it difficult to fill existing vacancies, make targeted new hires, and generally regulate the new facilities effectively. In addition, the board may develop a backlog of pending background investigations and potential enforcement actions, which would reduce the overall effectiveness of regulatory oversight.

“As the possibility of table game implementation continues to be a topic of discussion surrounding our budget crisis, let me be clear that the General Assembly should couple any table game bill with an adequate supplemental appropriation for the Gaming Control Board to ensure the integrity of any expansion.”

The Governor signed the measure on Aug. 19.

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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses.  To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

“Pennsylvania’s EMS system responds to a dispatch every 18 seconds, so it is essential that the system work efficiently and effectively. On top of that, the number of certified providers, operating ambulances, and patients seen has increased on a yearly basis over the past decade,” said Governor Rendell. “State government is committed to addressing the challenges that our dedicated EMS practitioners and first responders face every day, because doing so improves public safety.”

The EMS system consists of first responders, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, nurses, and physicians. These professionals staff the nearly 3,500 air and ground ambulances, hospitals, medical command centers, EMS education institutes, poison centers, certified trauma centers, injury prevention and public education programs, and all important components of the entire EMS system, which remains well connected through a complex communication system and the 911 centers.

The act is designed to achieve a higher quality, more adaptive, and better coordinated EMS system in Pennsylvania. The new law requires all EMS agencies to have a medical director. The law also will require ambulance drivers and attendants to be certified and regulated by the Department of Health, further enhancing public safety.

Recent improvements to the EMS system include new, high-tech education opportunities, the implementation of statewide treatment protocols and improved abilities to support emergency response to all hazard threats.

To help develop the legislation, the Department of Health consulted with a number of private sector organizations and sister agencies. It also conducted more than 50 town hall meetings to solicit public input. For more information, visit www.health.state.pa.us.

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The state will use the $6.1 million in federal funding to clean up 71 tank sites in 40 counties.

“Leaking underground storage tanks create a variety of problems, from soil and ground water contamination to preventing sites from being used in a productive manner,” said Governor Rendell. “The benefits of these projects will be many: the clean-up work will create jobs for contractors; and the remediated sites will help attract developers which creates construction jobs and permanent jobs through new business opportunities.”

In July, the state Department of Environmental Protection applied for the Recovery Act funding grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up sites where the responsible party is unknown, is unwilling or unable to remediate the site or the cleanup is an emergency response situation. In cases where the responsible party is unwilling or partially able to conduct the work, DEP will perform the remediation work and may take actions to recover cleanup costs.

“This is an example of federal money being used at the local level to put people to work and make their neighborhoods better and safer places to live and work,” said Governor Rendell. “This funding will enable us to take once productive sites and restore them to the point where they can be productive once again.”

Pennsylvania began regulating underground storage tanks in 1989. State law requires all underground storage tanks to be registered and permitted. Newly installed and replaced underground storage tanks must be double-walled and have corrosion protection and leak detection. Tank installers must be certified by the state and tanks are inspected by DEP-certified inspectors at least once every three years.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Storage Tanks. To learn more about how the federal economic stimulus will benefit communities across Pennsylvania, visit www.recovery.pa.gov.

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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses.  To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a list of the 71 sites where Pennsylvania will address leaking underground storage tanks using federal recovery funding:

Adams County
Oxford Township — William McIntyre property

Allegheny County
North Fayette Township — Former Dairy Mart #1122
Oakdale Borough — Zirwas Atlantic

Armstrong County
Ford City — Tim Rusfre property

Beaver County
Freedom Borough — Pine Run Market
Hopewell Township — Mancini’s Service

Bedford County
East Providence Township — Post House Restaurant
Napier Township — Gilbert Brothers

Berks County
Saint Lawrence Borough — Saint Lawrence Citgo

Bradford County
Ridgebury Township — Al’s Mid State Market
Wells Township — State Line Coastal

Bucks County
Springfield Township — Stony Point Grocery
Warrington Township – Malcolm’s

Carbon County
Summit Hill Borough — Leonzi Property

Chester County
East Pikeland Township — Gappa
Sadsbury Township — Tim Browns Auto

Clearfield County
Beccaria Township — Slovikosky Service Station

Columbia County
South Centre Township — Jiffy Mart

Crawford County
Conneautville Borough — Conneautville Keystone
Meadville City — Kimple’s Exxon

Cumberland County
Hampden Township — Super Car Wash

Delaware County
Chester City – Dudek’s Service Center
Ridley Township — Otto’s Service Station

Erie County
Albion Borough — Povolko Citgo

Fayette County
Uniontown Borough – Trusio’s

Forest County
Tionesta Borough — Shea Auto

Franklin County
Greene Township — Scotland Fuels
Waynesboro Borough — Waynesboro Food Mart

Huntingdon County
Jackson Township — Former Bigelows Grocery

Indiana County
Indiana Borough — McNaughton Oil
White Township — Flemings Amoco

Juniata County
Mifflin Borough — Former Mifflin Service Center

Lackawanna County
Clarks Green Borough — Hawk Oil Clifton Township – Fisher’s Quik Shoppe
Scranton City — Carpentier Property
Scranton City — Diana’s Gulf

Lebanon County
Jonestown Borough — RK Tune Up 3

Lehigh County
Slatington Borough — Hilltop Texaco
Washington Township — Zeigler Property (Perkowski)

Luzerne County
Dallas Township – Besteder’s ESSO
Duryea Borough — Shock’s Service Station
Hanover Township — Domoco Gas & Oil
Lehman Township — Harold’s Garage
Newport Township — Alden Station Mini Mart
Wilkes-Barre City — Sanitary Leasing Service

Lycoming County
Jordan Township — Unity Market

Mercer County
Coolspring Township — McEwen Oil
Sharon City – Radkowski property

Monroe County
Pocono Township — Scotrun Texaco Stroud Township — North Fifth Street Texaco
Stroud Township — Weaver Property

Montgomery County
Horsham Township — Glemser Bros
Norristown Borough — OJP Auto Service Inc
Whitpain Township — Center Square Citgo

Northumberland County
Shamokin City – Shamokin City Warehouse

Perry County
Spring Township — Greenbriar Mall

Philadelphia County
Philadelphia City — Bills Auto
Philadelphia City — Ribot’s

Potter County
Harrison Township — Mill’s Country Store
Portage Township — Costello General Store
Roulette Township – Faith’s Country Store

Schuylkill County
Cass Township – Jenkin’s Property
Pottsville City — West End Cleaners

Snyder County
Spring Township — Shellenberger Agency

Sullivan County
Dushore Borough — Trapani Service Station

Susquehanna County
Little Meadows Borough – Barnum’s Gulf
Silver Lake Township — Tucker’s Store

Washington County
Smith Township – Meerdo’s Service
Somerset Borough — Yost Property

Wayne County
Salem Township — Don Frick Sheds
Salem Township – Grason’s Service Station
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“There was no dedicated budget for autism services when I took office, but since then, Pennsylvania has made great strides in providing for those most in need,” said Governor Rendell. “Funding for these services is now being threatened. Through their budget proposal, Senate Republicans would slash state spending for autism services by 28 percent — a cut that would also jeopardize millions of dollars in federal matching funds.”

Governor Rendell reminded all Pennsylvanians that the budget fight is being waged on behalf of every child and adult living with autism and the networks that support them. The need for autism services continues to grow; as there are an estimated 25,000 people — mostly children — with autism living in Pennsylvania today. This represents a 25 percent increase from just four years ago.

Focusing on Pennsylvania as a national leader in autism services, the Governor recognized the recent unveiling of the state’s three regional autism ASERT centers, which represent a partnership of those involved in the treatment and care of adults and children with an autism spectrum disorder.

“At this campus where we stand today, families are benefiting from the partnership that has brought together the best minds and the best practitioners in the region,” said the Governor.  “This is evidence of how innovation happens.

“There is no sustainable, fiscally responsible solution to our budget challenge without new revenue,” Governor Rendell warned. “We recognize that prudent cuts are needed to balance our budget, but I will not allow decisions to be made that would gut essential programs and shortchange the future of our children.”

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The projects will produce or save 2.2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity over their lifetimes, or 110 million kilowatt hours per year. These projects will create 430 permanent green jobs, 1,068 construction jobs and help to retain 4,110 manufacturing jobs by stabilizing energy costs with on-site renewable energy systems.

Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) awarded $20.7 million in grants, including $10 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The public funding leverages another $120 million in private matching funds for a total investment of $140.7 million.

“Past investments have positioned Pennsylvania as a leader in the clean energy industry. The awarding of these grants will help continue that trend,” Governor Rendell said. “When I first revived PEDA in 2005, the goal was to provide the funding and the incentives necessary to move these types of projects forward. Now five years later, the projects we are funding will make significant impacts in the renewable energy market and the daily lives of Pennsylvanians. For example, the three biomass manufacturing projects approved today are expected to supply enough solid fuel to heat approximately 16,500 Pennsylvania homes annually.”

In addition, the projects include 9.3 megawatts of solar projects, geothermal, wind, carbon capture for coal, biodigesters for farms, combined heat and power and efficient lighting systems.

The 12 projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will:
• Generate or save more than 1.1 billion kilowatt hours over their lifetimes or 52 million kilowatt hours each year for the next 25 years, enough to power more than 5,000 homes;
• Create 185 permanent jobs;
• Create 381 temporary/construction jobs;
• Retain 3,776 jobs; and
• Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 100 million pounds, an amount generated by 8,561 passenger cars.

In addition, state funding from the Growing Greener II initiative will support 12 projects that will:
• Generate or save more than 1.1 billion kilowatt hours over their lifetime or 53 million kilowatt hours per year, enough to power more than 5,100 homes;
• Create 245 permanent jobs;
• Create 612 temporary/construction jobs;
• Retain 334 jobs, and
• Reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 100 million pounds, an amount generated by 8,720 passenger cars.

An additional $800,000 is being used to fund a project in Duquesne Light Company’s electric service territory and immediately adjacent areas. This project will receive funds allocated to the Department of Environmental Protection through the settlement of a Duquesne Light electric rate case. These funds will help ratepayers located within the Duquesne Light territory cope with high energy costs and ensure they have a secure energy supply that is needed for critical operations.

“We received a record 389 PEDA applications this year, seeking more than $400 million,” said Governor Rendell. “There is greater competition for a limited amount of funding for projects that will generate new, clean renewable sources of energy. Businesses and organizations know that by undertaking these types of projects, they are making sound investments in their own futures and the future of Pennsylvania.”

Since its revival in 2005, PEDA has supplied $68.5 million in funding to 143 projects, which has generated more than $1 billion in matching funds. PEDA is just one example of funding available for energy related projects. Governor Rendell also pointed to programs like PA Sunshine Solar, Small Business Energy Efficiency, PA Conservation Works, PA Green Energy Works, Act 1 Solar Energy, Act 1 Renewable Energy Act, Act 1 High Performance Buildings, and Act 1 Alternative and Clean Energy, as possible funding sources.

“In the past, we became too dependent upon foreign oil,” said Governor Rendell. “We have changed the way we think about meeting our energy needs. But we need to keep moving forward. Our actions are making a difference. We are breaking our dependency upon foreign energy sources one gallon of oil, and one kilowatt, at a time.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: “PEDA.”

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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses.  To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his newsletter, visit his Web site at: www.governor.state.pa.us.

EDITORS NOTE: The following is a list, by county, of the 25 alternative and renewable energy projects approved today by Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority:

Projects funded by the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

Centre County
Penns Valley Area School District  — $788,956 for the installation and operation of a district biomass heating system at the Penns Valley Elementary and High School. The project will use a Pennsylvania-manufactured boiler to provide low-cost, renewable-fuel heat for the school to reduce emissions, decrease operating costs, and provide a market for local Pennsylvania suppliers of biomass fuel. The system will save 7,960,000 kWh of electricity and 1,680,000 gallons of fuel oil over its lifetime. The project is expected to create 10 temporary, full-time jobs and 10 temporary part-time jobs. Matching funds — $788,956.

Chester County
Aqua PA Inc.’s Ingram’s Mill Solar Farm — $1 million to install a minimum of 1.040 megawatts of net metered photovoltaic solar modules on 4.5 acres of open field. It will generate 32,053,500 kWh of solar photovoltaic electricity over this project’s lifetime. This project will create 20 permanent, full-time jobs and 120 temporary, full-time jobs. Matching funds — $4,895,600.

Southeastern Chester County Refuse Authority (SECCRA) — $1,093,427 to install a third 1.6 megawatt internal combustion engine/generator set which will produce electricity by burning landfill gas and then transmit the “green electricity” through the PJM Interconnection grid.  This project will generate 262,000,000 kWh of electricity over its lifetime. The SECCRA landfill is solely owned and operated by a municipal authority serving the waste and recycling needs of 24 municipalities with a population of 90,000 residents. It will create one permanent, full-time position and 75 temporary full-time jobs. Matching funds — $400,000.

Cumberland County
The Carlisle Area School District — $1 million to install a 1 MW photovoltaic array system. This represents about 15 percent of the annual power used by the school district. This will save the school district approximately $105,000 per year. This project is expected to generate more than 25,500,000 kWh of electricity over its lifetime. This project will create 20 temporary, full-time jobs.  Matching funds — $4,782,385.

Lackawanna County
Marywood University — $205,000 to construct a geothermal system using mine water located beneath its campus. The system will be connected to the newly-renovated $4 million “green” facility that will house the university’s new School of Architecture, the first in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It will offset 4,700,000 kWh of energy during its lifetime. It will create 10 temporary, full-time jobs.  Matching funds — $324,600.

Lancaster County
Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority — $1.5 million to develop a 3MW wind turbine to supply green power to the Turkey Hill Diary. The facility will produce electricity amounting to 180,450,000 kWh over its lifetime. There will be two 1,500 kW GE wind turbines deployed. Two new permanent, full-time positions will be filled and 35 new temporary, full-time and 10 new temporary, part-time jobs will be created. Matching funds — $6.75 million.

Montgomery County
Buckman’s Inc. — $520,000 to execute a three-phase plan to cut costs, reduce energy usage and environmental impact, and ensure the long-term success of the organization. This grant will fund the first phase, which will consist of a 620 kW solar energy system and targeted energy efficiency. The second phase will include the installation of a solar hot water system, with the final phase adding a wind energy system. The solar energy system is expected to generate 17,384,125 kWh of electricity over its lifetime.  This project is expected to create 14 temporary, full-time jobs. Matching funds — $3,867,340.

Northampton County
Crayola, LLC — $1.5 million to develop a 1.9 MW solar powered facility at its headquarters and manufacturing site, in partnership with UGI Development Company and PPL Renewable Energy.  The project represents 10 percent of the power consumed by the entire plant and one-third of the energy consumed for crayon manufacturing. The project will consist of 26,200 photovoltaic panels and produce more than 61,988,500 kWh of electricity over its lifetime helping to offset electricity costs and preserve 1,187 jobs at its manufacturing and research facilities. A solar power exhibit will be constructed educating over 350,000 visitors per year.  The project is scheduled to begin producing power in December 2009.  Matching funds — $10,520,000.

Chrin Brothers Inc. — $1 million to develop a landfill-gas-energy project that will provide 3.2 MW or a lifetime total of 500,000,000 kWh of electricity to four new manufacturing companies located in the Green Energy Park. This park will supply green energy to new clients which are expected to attract 160 jobs into the Lehigh Valley. An education center will also be established to host up to 2,000 visitors a year. The park is scheduled to begin producing green power and thermal energy from the landfill gas by Dec. 31, 2010. Matching funds — $7,832,000.

Philadelphia County
The Wagner Free Institute of Science — $250,000 to replace its single steam boiler with four high-efficiency, high-performance boilers. The project will conserve 3,615,320 kWh of conventional energy during its lifetime. Annual operational cost savings will range from $17,000 to $22,000. The project will retain 10 permanent, full-time jobs, create one permanent, part-time job and creates 23 additional temporary positions. Matching funds — $348,218.

Schuylkill County
Food Markets Inc. (Wegmans) — $1,009,176 to construct a new 350,000-square-foot multi-temperature warehouse in its Pottsville retail service center. The project will install an alternative fuel distribution technology for fueling 150 new energy efficient hydrogen fuel cell powered material handling equipment vehicles, provided by Lift Inc. of Lancaster. This project will offset 4,064,445 kWh of energy over its lifetime. It will retain eight full-time positions and create 23 temporary, full-time jobs. Matching funds — $6,213,691.
Multiple Counties
Lehigh Valley Hospital — $502,000 to install 248 kW of photovoltaic panels at its Allentown and Bethlehem facilities. This project is expected to generate more than 6,809,575 kWh of electricity over its lifetime. Matching funds — $850,000.
Projects funded by Growing Greener II:

Allegheny County
Plextronics Inc. — $947,000 to further expand its D-Line by adding solar cell fabrication process development and testing tools. The tools purchased would lead to cost reductions and/or efficiency improvements in the solar modules that will eventually be produced by upcoming large-scale manufacturing lines. The end goal is to establish a manufacturing base in Pennsylvania that can lead to hundreds of new jobs. The project is expected to create 50 permanent, full-time jobs and 200 temporary, full-time jobs. When completed, this project will be capable of producing 10 MW of printed solar modules annually. Matching funds — $1,243,831.

PFBC Environmental Energy Technology Inc. — $1 million to demonstrate a carbon dioxide separation technology which turns impounded waste coal into a usable energy resource. When fully deployed, this project is expected to generate 2,978,400,000 kWh per year of electricity and save 651,437 tons of coal per year. At full implementation, it is expected to create 150 permanent, full-time jobs, 50 permanent, part-time jobs, 1,000 temporary, full-time jobs, and 90 temporary, part-time jobs. Matching funds — $2,685,322.

Blair County
Card I Limited Partnership — $1,150,000 to construct a biogas energy production facility in Martinsburg. The facility will generate 823,440,000 kWh of electricity during its lifetime. It will also generate solid fuel at a rate of 12,950 tons per year. The new facility will create 33 full-time jobs and 200 temporary, full-time jobs for construction services. Matching funds — $38,795,000.

Crawford County
Ernst Biomass, LLC — $896,400 to construct a biomass processing and densification facility. The products will be used for combustion fuels in a large range of applications from industrial furnaces to small pellet stoves. The facility will manufacture a renewable fuel supply for the solid fuels market and provide biomass fuels to meet varied specifications for energy companies’ testing programs. It is expected to generate 24,000 tons of solid fuel per year.  The project will create 10 permanent, full-time jobs, 80 permanent, part-time jobs, and 12 temporary, full-time jobs. Matching funds — $1,336,929.

Cumberland County
Knouse Foods Cooperative Inc. — $1,500,000 to construct and operate a 3.155 MW solar photovoltaic generating facility to provide energy for its Peach Glen processing plant. The facility is a sustainable means to reduce reliance on electricity from the grid during fresh cherry and peach season and is expected to generate 103,346,750 kWh of solar electricity over its lifetime. It is expected to create 80 temporary, full-time jobs and retain 50 permanent, full-time jobs. Matching funds — $17,903,250.

Elk County
OSRAM Sylvania Inc. — $116,865 to launch its new candle-shaped Light Emitting Diode Lamp. The funding will be used to procure mold tooling, construct an air tight assembly room and necessary electrostatic workstations to assemble this product in Pennsylvania. The LED lamps are expected to save 358,060,979 kWh per year of electricity and 3,465.40 MMBTU per year of natural gas.  It is expected to create 60 permanent, full-time jobs and retain seven permanent, full-time jobs. Matching funds — $496,970.

Lycoming County
East Lycoming School District — $800,000 to convert the Hughesville Junior/Senior High School and Lycoming Career & Technology Center primary heating source from oil/natural gas to biomass. With this conversion, the district is evaluating the potential to grow on-site hybrid willow, black locust, or American chestnut trees which will serve as a primary fuel source for the biomass boiler. The district has approximately 60 acres of available farmland for the on-site growth of these crops.  This project will conserve 44,200,960 kWh of conventional energy over its lifetime.  Matching funds — $915,476.

David R. Webb — $866,500 to install a single-stage steam turbine generator set to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and generate reliable onsite power. The system will convert a maximum steam flow of 29,900 lbs per hour of 140 pounds per square inch steam to 630 kW of power. This project is expected to generate 76,008,100 kWh for energy over its lifetime. It will retain 270 permanent, full-time jobs. Matching Funds — $500,000.

Philadelphia County
Conergy Projects, Inc — $900,000 to develop a 1.5 MW solar photovoltaic generation facility, the largest in an urban setting in the U.S. The Exelon-Conergy Solar Center II will be located on a 6.5-acre parcel of land in Philadelphia owned by the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development. The facility will generate an estimated 42,435,075 kWh of electricity over its lifetime.  The project is expected to create one permanent, full-time job, 40 temporary, full-time jobs, and 40 temporary, part-time jobs. Matching funds — $7,027,343.

Snyder County
Barefoot Pellet Company — $469,200 to improve its raw material in-feed systems and install additional manufacturing equipment. This expansion will allow the Selinsgrove facility to return to two full shifts of production, accept additional feed stock and diversify its local offering to include wood pellets as well as Envi-Blocks. The system is expected to generate 36,000 tons of densified wood and save 4,114,000 gallon of oil annually. It will create five permanent, full-time jobs. Matching funds — $411,700.

Somerset County
Pennwood Farms Dairy — $475,274 to install an anaerobic digester system at its Somerset County dairy farm. The project will generate 13,135,360 kWh of energy over its lifetime. One permanent, full-time job and 20 temporary, full-time jobs will be created. Matching funds — $475,274.

Union County
Biomass Fuel Stocks of PA Inc. — $150,000 to establish a central Pennsylvania facility which will densify readily available, cellulose-based fuel stock. The company will convert untreated, unpainted waste wood, energy crops such as switch grass, agricultural waste such as corn cobs and stover, plus other biomass into convenient-to-use, densified briquettes. The project will result in the savings of 6,000 tons of biomass briquettes per year. The project is expected to create four permanent, full-time jobs and 1 permanent, part-time job. The project will re-use a former auto scrap yard. Matching funds — $152,000.
The following alternative and renewable energy project approved today by PEDA and funded through Duquesne Light:

Allegheny County
The Allegheny County Airport Authority — $800,000 to replace 1,471 existing High Intensity Discharge lighting with high efficiency Liquid Emitting Diode (LED). These fixtures are located in the long-term and extended parking lots and the three-level parking garage of Pittsburgh International Airport. The LED lighting system will consume an estimated 83 percent less energy. This project will generate $158,754 in annual energy savings, with 2,118,438 kWh saved over the project’s lifetime. The project will create and preserve 75 well-paying green jobs for Appalachian Lighting Systems. Matching funds — $800,000.

Governor Rendell said funding levels proposed under Senate Bill 850 would have caused nearly 8,000 children to lose their child care subsidy and join the 16,000 children already on the waiting list. As a result, Pennsylvania would then have to forfeit $60 million in federal stimulus money.  The Governor expressed concern for the working parents of children losing services, wondering what their options without care may be.

“Without access to quality and affordable child care, these families will be left in a terrible bind,” said Governor Rendell.  “Will they settle for less reliable care that puts their children’s future at risk; or lose their jobs, collecting unemployment and potentially cycling onto the welfare rolls?  It pains me to think of the difficult decisions families must face without this funding.”

Standing with child care leaders from across Pennsylvania, Governor Rendell reminded legislators that an investment in child care is an investment in the economy. He again made clear he would not support any plan that would cut essential services that significantly impact long-term economic growth.

“The child care sector has the highest multiplier effect for public investment of any sector in Pennsylvania,” said Governor Rendell.  “For every public dollar we invest in child care facilities, more than two dollars is circulated into the economy through jobs and goods and services.”

For more information on the Governor’s budget proposal, visit www.pa.gov.

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The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses.  To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Attached are supportive statements from advocacy organizations:

Statement of Childspace Cooperative Development Inc. (View PDF)

Dear Governor Rendell,

Thank you for continuing to insist on the  passage of a budget that would fund Child Care Works and  all of the early education programs that have been helping to improve both the quality of early education, and access to these programs by all Pennsylvanians.  As you know, quality improvement programs including Keystone Stars, Pre-K, Head Start and TEACH have been effective in increasing the number of quality early education programs.  It is critical that full funding of early education be in the final budget, not the cuts included in the Senate bill 850.

We know that economic realities make these budget decisions very difficult.  However, we also know that quality early education is worth the investment and actually saves money in the long run as children enter school ready to learn and to eventually join the productive work force. Thank you for understanding the value and supporting early education.

Sincerely,
Yvonne Thompson-Friend, Board President
Janet Filante, Executive Director

Statement of the Pittsburgh Area Association for the Education of Young Children (View PDF)

The Pittsburgh Area Association for the Education of Young Children will only support a budget that fully funds Head Start Supplemental, Keystone STARS, Child Care Works, Pre-K Counts, and Early Intervention.

We support Governor Rendell in rejecting the early childhood portion of SB 850, which would have resulted in the loss of early childhood services to thousands of children.

Our children and families deserve a quick resolution to the budget impasse, but funding all these essential services must be the result – our future economic competitiveness is at stake.

Sincerely,
Michelle Figlar, Executive Director

Statement of Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (View PDF)

As the membership organization for over 1,900 early childhood practitioners in the Delaware Valley, we are deeply concerned about the budget impasse.  We need a budget that invests in our youngest children, and we need one soon.

We support the Governor in rejecting the early childhood portion of SB 850, which would have resulted in the loss of early childhood services to thousands of children.

The Senate budget bill, including both state and federal stimulus funds, would spend a total of $27.3 billion, which is $1.7 billion less than the budget proposed by Governor Ed Rendell.  Early childhood programs were particularly hard hit:

• Pre-K Counts is reduced from $95 million to $43 million, a cut of 55 percent.  6,500 fewer children will be enrolled in Pre-K Counts classrooms in the fall.
• Head Start Supplemental Assistance is cut by 50 percent, from $39 million to $19 million. 2,800 children will be cut from Head Start classrooms.
• State funds for pre-k early intervention would be cut by $7.2 million.  Federal funds that would expand early intervention to more children will be used instead to replace state funds, leaving 850 children without EI services.
• Nurse-Family Partnerships are cut $3.7 million from the Governor’s proposal.
• Child care services were reduced for the current fiscal year (2008-09). The Senate budget proposes additional cuts in child care subsidy and Keystone Stars.
• Child care services for working parents would be reduced from $171 million to $159.7 million, a cut of $12 million.  Subsidy for 2,000 additional children would be eliminated and the waiting list of 16,000 families would continue to grow.  $4 million in additional funds for Keystone START quality improvement is eliminated.
• Child care assistance funds would be cut by $12 million, including 3,397 subsidy slots expected as a result of increased TANF caseloads.
• CHIP, the health insurance program for Pennsylvania’s children will be cut by $7.7 million. 9 percent fewer children will have health care than initially projected.

With no budget, early childhood programs that serve state-subsidized children are among the first casualties.  Most of these programs are run by small providers who don’t have the financial cushion to ride out weeks of non-payment.  However it’s important to keep in mind that the solution is not Senate Bill 850, which would gut the quality early childhood system that has been built up in the state over the past seven years (and has been referenced by President Obama as a model for the nation).

The early childhood community in Pennsylvania is reeling from the immediate effects of the budget impasse, while holding out for a budget that makes a smart investment in our youngest citizens.

Sharon Easterling, Executive Director
Pamela Haines, Public Policy Director

Statement of the Pennsylvania Child Care Association (View PDF)

The Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) is a statewide, non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating the provision of quality early care and education to the children of Pennsylvania.  Early childhood investments support our economy. Drastic cuts to early learning programs so policymakers can balance a state budget will support neither our children nor Pennsylvania’s economy. We support the Governor in rejecting the early childhood portion of SB850, which would have resulted in the loss of early childhood services to thousands of children.

Child care is a community business. There are over 270,000 of Pennsylvania’s children in child care on any given day. Many of these children are from low income working families who are receiving child care subsidy assistance and benefit from Keystone STARS. It takes 4,200 child care centers, 850 group home providers, and 3,700 home based child care programs to care for them.  An estimated 58,000 people are employed in child care alone, not counting Head Start, Pre K Counts or Early Intervention.   We know that for every 6 children that come in to child care, 1 job is created.  Conversely for every 6 children eliminated from child care, 1 child care job is lost.

This budget stalemate is creating a child care crisis for care providers across the state. Many child care programs have budgets that are dependent upon receiving this state funding, such as state-subsidized child care and Pre-K Counts. Without it, we will see many child care programs closing.  Cuts to early education programs will be devastating to our industry and to Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate. Parents depend on quality early learning programs because it allows them to work, while preparing children to enter school ready to learn.  Early care and education programs provide businesses with a dependable and skilled workforce now and into the future.

“Our elected officials are looking in the wrong places and threatening programs that not only have proven long-term results but that also stimulate the economy in the present.” said Diana Dixon, Chair of the Pennsylvania Child Care Association’s board of directors.  “I hear from families everyday about how important it is to them to have good, reliable child care so they can continue to work. Cuts in funding to these programs, such as Child Care Works or Keystone STARS, could leave nearly 30,000 children on waiting lists for safe and reliable child care, forcing families to make hard decisions on working or collecting unemployment.”

When our young children receive quality early education, they can overcome risk factors that could hold them back and do better in school, graduate, go to college and get good jobs. They become productive members of society, become part of a qualified workforce and pay taxes. We need today’s children to succeed so they can generate tomorrow’s state revenues.

We need the Commonwealth’s commitment to investments in children and families. If we rely on a budget that cuts all early childhood education programs, we are only causing future economic harm to our state.  A responsible budget is one that does not cut and continues to invest in Child Care Works, Pre-K Counts, Keystone Stars and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program, as proposed in the 2009-2010 Executive Budget.

Statement of the Early Care and Education Consortium (Washington, D.C.) (View PDF)

Early Care and Education Consortium members operate full-day, full-year child care and early learning programs to families of all income levels across Pennsylvania, and employ thousands of early educators.  Parents can’t work without child care, and in this economy parents need early education through child care to get and keep good jobs. Our state needs to put people back to work, not make it harder to get there. We are opposed to Senate Bill 850 and the cuts it imposes on these vital early childhood programs.  Governor Rendell’s difficult decision to reject these cuts and to stand for full funding for early childhood education has our support.

This budget stalemate threatens our economy, our businesses, our families, and the Commonwealth’s children.  If this budget stalemate continues, many early childhood programs across the state will lay off staff or close. Child care is a business and program funds from Child Care Works, Keystone Stars, PreK Counts and the Head Start Supplemental are needed to make business ends meet. Child Care Works subsidy payments to providers are delayed, reduced, or not happening at all.  Businesses cannot be expected to operate like this. And without child care fully operational, no other business in the state can function either.

Brightside Academy, an ECEC member, operates 38 locations in Pennsylvania which care for more than 4500 children each day. “Our families rely on Child Care Works funding to go to work and go to school,” says Sarah Horn of Brightside Academy. “Pennsylvania needs a budget that helps everyone, not just some. We need a budget that allows parents to work and children to grow. Brightside Academy can do our job of nurturing young minds only if the legislature passes a budget which puts our most valuable resource, children, first. We urge the General Assembly to put politics aside and enact a budget that fully funds these vital programs.”

“With school vacations ending and the regular school year starting, it is imperative that Pennsylvania enact a budget which fully addresses working families need for early childhood education and care so parents can work and children can learn,” says Shelly Duplin of KinderCare Learning Centers, another ECEC member with 95 centers in 21 counties, the Commonwealth’s largest private provider of high quality early childhood education and care.  “Pennsylvania’s serious economic problems will only get worse if the needs of working families are not addressed.  Our families know they can depend on KinderCare Learning Centers.  They need to know they can depend on the state for Child Care Works and Keystone STARS as well”.

Pennsylvania must end this budget stalemate and enact a budget that protects early childhood funding. These are investments that support our children, families and our economy.  A responsible budget is one that invests in Child Care Works, Pre-K Counts, Keystone Stars and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program, as proposed in the 2009-2010 Executive Budget.  We are opposed to Senate Bill 850 since it cuts these early childhood education programs. We need a public investment to save and create jobs for early educators and support staff, help prepare children to enter school ready to succeed and ultimately become productive members of the future workforce, and enable their parents to work today.

Statement of Public Citizens for Children and Youth (Southeastern region) (View PDF)

Public Citizens for Children and Youth (PCCY) urges the Pennsylvania General Assembly to act quickly to pass a budget that rejects cuts to Child Care Works in Senate Bill 850 and instead creates 3,700 additional slots in the program in FY 2009-2010.

Child Care Works helps low-income working families move toward financial independence by subsidizing the cost of child care. While the program enables parents to remain in the workforce, it develops school readiness skills in their children.

Since early in this decade the demand for Child Care Works has outpaced the availability of public funds. Within the past year the waiting list for Child Care Works has doubled, reaching an unprecedented high of 16,000 children.

In “Child Care Works: A Program with a Growing Need,” (June, 2009) PCCY reported that fewer than one half of all children who meet Pennsylvania’s income eligibility guidelines have access to Child Care Works. Upon learning that there is a waiting list, many parents chose not to enroll. Of those who do, families in at least 40 percent of Pennsylvania’s counties – rural, urban and suburban alike – face waiting times of six months to a year before receiving subsidy.

While they wait parents typically pursue one of three options according to Christie Balka, PCCY’s Director of Child Care and Budget Policy.

“They delay returning to the workforce and moving toward self-sufficiency; they place children in less-expensive care, which can pose a threat to their health and safety; or they cobble together a variety of unreliable child care arrangements, placing their own jobs at risk when these fall through,” Balka said. “For this reason Pennsylvania must use all the federal funds at its disposal to serve these families,” she added.

The Governor has proposed using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that were dedicated to this purpose to create 3,700 additional slots in Child Care Works. SB 850 would instead add 7,700 children to the waiting list for this program.

Child Care Works is part of a continuum of early childhood education services that the Commonwealth provides to eligible children and families. Others include Keystone Stars, a voluntary child care rating and improvement system; Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance, which provide high quality early education for pre-school children; Nurse Family Partnership and Early Intervention.

Statement of the Pennsylvania Head Start Association (View PDF)

The Pennsylvania Head Start Association (PHSA) is a statewide, non-profit organization actively involved in improving the lives of children and their families, particularly low-income families. PHSA is an advocacy organization for Head Start programs, families, staff and administrators in Pennsylvania. Head Start programs work to raise low income families out of poverty.  Head Start programs depend on all of Pennsylvania’s Early Childhood investments to be successful in helping families become economically self-sufficient. A healthy economy that is growing new jobs is necessary for the unemployed or under employed families in Pennsylvania to be able to get out of poverty.  In addition, many Head Start providers are also PA Pre K Counts providers, and child care providers.

Pennsylvania’s early childhood investments support our economy. Drastic cuts to early learning programs so policymakers can balance a state budget will support neither our children nor Pennsylvania’s economy.  During this economic crisis Pennsylvania’s continued investment in Early Childhood makes sense economically for our short term and long term economic health.  Failure to invest now will create even greater challenges for Pennsylvania in the coming budget years.

We need the Commonwealth’s commitment to investments in children and families. If we fail to pass a budget that supports all early childhood education programs, we are causing future economic harm to our state.  A responsible budget is one that invests in Child Care Works, Pre-K Counts, Keystone Stars and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program, as proposed in the 2009-2010 Executive Budget.

The budget stalemate is creating a crisis for Head Start providers across the state. Many Head Start programs are dependent upon receiving state funding such as Head Start Supplement, state-subsidized child care and Pre-K Counts.  Most Head Start Supplemental programs and PA Pre K Counts programs are not opening this fall.  Other programs are opening drastically reduced programs.  The budget impasse is hurting both the families we serve and to Pennsylvania’s already struggling economy.

As Head Start parents enter the workforce they depend on quality early learning programs because it allows them to work, while preparing children to enter school ready to learn.  Early care and education programs provide businesses with a dependable and skilled workforce now and into the future. A further budget stalemate threatens our economy, our businesses, our families, and the Commonwealth’s children.  Head Start parents need quality child care for their children who are too young to be eligible for Head Start or PA Pre-K Counts.

Cuts in funding to funds to early learning programs, especially Child Care Works, could leave nearly 30,000 children on waiting lists for safe and reliable child care, forcing families to make hard decisions on working or collecting unemployment.  If families are not able to work this will create even more families competing for the already limited Head Start serves available for low income families.

When our young children receive quality early education, they can overcome risk factors that could hold them back and do better in school, graduate, go to college and get good jobs. They become productive members of society, become part of a qualified workforce and pay taxes. We need today’s children to succeed so they can generate tomorrow’s state revenues.