Raystown Rays: Juniata\'s Field Station Gets Solar Energy Grant
(Posted November 26, 2007)
HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Juniata College received $46,564 from Pennsylvania's Energy Harvest Grants program to fund a five-kilowatt solar voltaic energy system at Shuster Hall, the main instructional building at the college's Raystown Field Station.
Shuster Hall, which is a LEED-certified "green\" building, will receive the solar system and install it some time next year. The system is expected to generate 6,500 kilowatt hours per year and reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide.
"The addition of a solar energy system to Shuster Hall's other 'green' technologies makes our field station one of the most effective teaching tools to show students how much of an environmental footprint they are leaving behind,\" says Thomas R. Kepple, Juniata College president.
The Juniata grant was one of 28 funded across Pennsylvania to receive grants. "Rather than continuing to rely on oil supplies that may come from politically unstable or hostile nations, or electricity derived from dirtier fossil fuels, we're investing in our future by supporting the development of alternative and renewable energy technologies that will strengthen our economy, create new jobs, and protect our environment,\" said Gov. Ed Rendell in a press release.
The 28 funded projects represent an investment of $5.4 million, according to the Energy Harvest program. The Energy harvest program was launched in 2003 to promote awareness and build markets for renewable energy technologies.
Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.