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Northumberland County sees future in energy
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SHAMOKIN — The value of its still-abundant anthracite coal reserves in combination with a pursuit of alternative energy development is the basis for a major new economic initiative that Northumberland County plans to fully introduce Wednesday.
The announcement, planned at a 2 p.m. press conference at the auditorium of the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, Eighth and Arch streets, will include details on two “renewable energy producers” that will bring jobs to Northumberland County.
Details of the county’s FUTURES (Fossil Underwriting Technology to Utilize Renewable Energy Sources) program began to emerge Monday with a media advisory about Wednesday’s event, at which U.S. Rep. Chris Carney (D-10), state Sen. John Gordner (R-27), and state Reps. Robert E. Belfanti (D-107) and Merle Phillips (R-108) will join commissioners and other county officials in a presentation. A taped message from U.S. Sen. Robert E. Casey will be played, according to the county’s planning department, which has organized the event.
FUTURES, first teased by the county through placement of a large banner reading “The FUTURE’s Here” on the career and arts building Friday, will be promoted through a “Madison Avenue-style” marketing campaign that includes colorful literature. Messages include “Northumberland County, We’re Energized” and “Energizing Our Future.”
The world’s global energy demands are playing into the hands of Northumberland County, said Steve Bartos, planning department director, and he sees the opportunity for the county to be an energy mecca as it was in anthracite coal’s heyday.
“We’re seeing a major shift in the global energy market,” he said in an interview Monday. “We have other countries that are going through the type of industrial revolution that this country went through at the turn of the century. They’re coming on line, they’re power hungry; they need energy.”
He said the “BRICK” countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and Korea — are those cited as most in need.
And it isn’t a matter of “if” that shift will affect Northumberland County, he said.
“It is happening,” Bartos said.
He said the greater demand for hard coal has led a number of both national and international venture capitalists to explore potential partnerships and collaboration on energy-related projects in the county. The county’s coal wealth can serve as the keystone for the establishment of renewable energy sources, he said.
County stimulus
Bartos, who brought 25 of experience from the state Department of Environmental Protection and federal Department of Energy to his new job, which he began in February, said it’s important the county play a role in marketing itself and aggressively pursuing businesses that are searching worldwide for energy products and producers. The county can be the stimulus for such private investment, he believes.
While marketing Northumberland County to an international audience may seem overly ambitious to some, County Commissioner Chairman Frank Sawicki said it isn’t beyond comprehension.
“There’s a lot of inherit value in both mineral extraction and alternative energy to make Northumberland County an attractive place to do business — we expect to capitalize on that,” he said. “No matter what, it’s a positive step.”
He referenced how powerful Northumberland, Schuylkill and other hard-coal counties were in the past, and said “we’re going to take the lead” in attempting to reclaim that prominence.
“We’re looking at essentially jump-starting the county to take advantage of the energy resources that are under our control,” said “The intent is to look at the resources we have here ... about building on our strengths.”
Merge old, new
The idea of merging anthracite mining in the traditional sense with the coal industry’s latest clean-burn coal technologies and with alternative energy processes ranging from biomass power systems to solar farms, hydrogen fuels, geothermal energy and ethanol plants is detailed in a strategic plan Bartos and the county developed as part of FUTURES.
The strategic plan notes the “Energy Independence Strategy” Gov. Ed Rendell unveiled earlier this year, in which the state plans to invest more than $650 million in energy conservation and development of renewable energy resources.
“The goal of the FUTURES program is to strengthen the economic base of our region by inviting and encouraging alternative and renewable energy producers and manufacturers to establish themselves in Northumberland County. Our rich anthracite coal heritage will continue in new clean-burn technologies, bridging the gap to renewables,” notes the advisory for Wednesday’s event. “Early efforts of the FUTURES program have secured the decision of two new renewable energy producers to move to Northumberland County.”
Bartos said details on the producers and funding for the project, and another exciting aspect of FUTURES, will be detailed Wednesday.
The planning department, noting Carney’s attendance and Casey’s effort to provide a video message in the midst of his work on the nation’s financial crisis, describes an “unprecedented level of legislative support” for the initiative.
Bartos said the county has important characteristics that should be attractive to energy producers, including abundant, quality hard-coal reserves in the ground; coal refuse piles that can still be scoured for coal “fines” that can be used as feedstock for engineered fuels, their removal thereby helping the environment; 10,000 acres of reclaimed or abandoned coal lands on which to develop industry, including those in Keystone Opportunity and Keystone Innovation Zones; as well as almost half of the country’s population within 500 miles.
Promoting the project
The FUTURES program and the county’s benefits will be promoted through a professionally produced DVD that will be included in marketing packages presented to prospective companies, used for presentations and made available on the county Web site (it will be played at Wednesday’s event); a PowerPoint presentation for presentations and meetings; the development of a county tagline, logo and overall theme; development of demographic information, video clips and key contacts on the county Web site, and the printed materials.
Bartos, who said he and his department colleagues have been working feverishly in laying the groundwork for FUTURES over the past few months, is excited about the possibilities.
“I think the county needs to step up and do something about the economic condition of the region; it’s been so long since we’ve done something like this as a community, as a team,” he said. “I’m more afraid of continuing to do nothing than to step up and fail. I believe we have the potential to really make a difference in our area.”
The announcement, planned at a 2 p.m. press conference at the auditorium of the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, Eighth and Arch streets, will include details on two “renewable energy producers” that will bring jobs to Northumberland County.
Details of the county’s FUTURES (Fossil Underwriting Technology to Utilize Renewable Energy Sources) program began to emerge Monday with a media advisory about Wednesday’s event, at which U.S. Rep. Chris Carney (D-10), state Sen. John Gordner (R-27), and state Reps. Robert E. Belfanti (D-107) and Merle Phillips (R-108) will join commissioners and other county officials in a presentation. A taped message from U.S. Sen. Robert E. Casey will be played, according to the county’s planning department, which has organized the event.
FUTURES, first teased by the county through placement of a large banner reading “The FUTURE’s Here” on the career and arts building Friday, will be promoted through a “Madison Avenue-style” marketing campaign that includes colorful literature. Messages include “Northumberland County, We’re Energized” and “Energizing Our Future.”
The world’s global energy demands are playing into the hands of Northumberland County, said Steve Bartos, planning department director, and he sees the opportunity for the county to be an energy mecca as it was in anthracite coal’s heyday.
“We’re seeing a major shift in the global energy market,” he said in an interview Monday. “We have other countries that are going through the type of industrial revolution that this country went through at the turn of the century. They’re coming on line, they’re power hungry; they need energy.”
He said the “BRICK” countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China and Korea — are those cited as most in need.
And it isn’t a matter of “if” that shift will affect Northumberland County, he said.
“It is happening,” Bartos said.
He said the greater demand for hard coal has led a number of both national and international venture capitalists to explore potential partnerships and collaboration on energy-related projects in the county. The county’s coal wealth can serve as the keystone for the establishment of renewable energy sources, he said.
County stimulus
Bartos, who brought 25 of experience from the state Department of Environmental Protection and federal Department of Energy to his new job, which he began in February, said it’s important the county play a role in marketing itself and aggressively pursuing businesses that are searching worldwide for energy products and producers. The county can be the stimulus for such private investment, he believes.
While marketing Northumberland County to an international audience may seem overly ambitious to some, County Commissioner Chairman Frank Sawicki said it isn’t beyond comprehension.
“There’s a lot of inherit value in both mineral extraction and alternative energy to make Northumberland County an attractive place to do business — we expect to capitalize on that,” he said. “No matter what, it’s a positive step.”
He referenced how powerful Northumberland, Schuylkill and other hard-coal counties were in the past, and said “we’re going to take the lead” in attempting to reclaim that prominence.
“We’re looking at essentially jump-starting the county to take advantage of the energy resources that are under our control,” said “The intent is to look at the resources we have here ... about building on our strengths.”
Merge old, new
The idea of merging anthracite mining in the traditional sense with the coal industry’s latest clean-burn coal technologies and with alternative energy processes ranging from biomass power systems to solar farms, hydrogen fuels, geothermal energy and ethanol plants is detailed in a strategic plan Bartos and the county developed as part of FUTURES.
The strategic plan notes the “Energy Independence Strategy” Gov. Ed Rendell unveiled earlier this year, in which the state plans to invest more than $650 million in energy conservation and development of renewable energy resources.
“The goal of the FUTURES program is to strengthen the economic base of our region by inviting and encouraging alternative and renewable energy producers and manufacturers to establish themselves in Northumberland County. Our rich anthracite coal heritage will continue in new clean-burn technologies, bridging the gap to renewables,” notes the advisory for Wednesday’s event. “Early efforts of the FUTURES program have secured the decision of two new renewable energy producers to move to Northumberland County.”
Bartos said details on the producers and funding for the project, and another exciting aspect of FUTURES, will be detailed Wednesday.
The planning department, noting Carney’s attendance and Casey’s effort to provide a video message in the midst of his work on the nation’s financial crisis, describes an “unprecedented level of legislative support” for the initiative.
Bartos said the county has important characteristics that should be attractive to energy producers, including abundant, quality hard-coal reserves in the ground; coal refuse piles that can still be scoured for coal “fines” that can be used as feedstock for engineered fuels, their removal thereby helping the environment; 10,000 acres of reclaimed or abandoned coal lands on which to develop industry, including those in Keystone Opportunity and Keystone Innovation Zones; as well as almost half of the country’s population within 500 miles.
Promoting the project
The FUTURES program and the county’s benefits will be promoted through a professionally produced DVD that will be included in marketing packages presented to prospective companies, used for presentations and made available on the county Web site (it will be played at Wednesday’s event); a PowerPoint presentation for presentations and meetings; the development of a county tagline, logo and overall theme; development of demographic information, video clips and key contacts on the county Web site, and the printed materials.
Bartos, who said he and his department colleagues have been working feverishly in laying the groundwork for FUTURES over the past few months, is excited about the possibilities.
“I think the county needs to step up and do something about the economic condition of the region; it’s been so long since we’ve done something like this as a community, as a team,” he said. “I’m more afraid of continuing to do nothing than to step up and fail. I believe we have the potential to really make a difference in our area.”
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of The News-Item.
carl coleman wrote on Sep 30, 2008 3:40 PM:
" Good news on hope for the future.
A quote from the article, relevant to the current world finacial situation:
"I’m more afraid of continuing to do nothing than to step up and fail." "
A quote from the article, relevant to the current world finacial situation:
"I’m more afraid of continuing to do nothing than to step up and fail." "
coalcracker at heart wrote on Oct 1, 2008 1:34 AM:
" I wrote this letter to the Citizens for Affordable Energy on 17JUL08
To whom it may concern,
I grew up in the Anthracite Coal Region of Pennsylvania; it’s no secret that there is still plenty of coal to be mined in the area. Between the government, the environmentalists, and OSHA they've made it impossible for mine owners to make it worthwhile. I just wanted to point out that we could kill a whole flock of birds with just one stone; just to name a few, there would be no need to commute 50 miles to work everyday, it would help the oil crisis we currently have, and last but not least it would help to rejuvenate an economically depressed area. In Pueblo, Colorado at the Comanche Power Plant (Comanche Units 1 & 2) they just retrofitted, the coal fired power plants with exhaust gas scrubbers to bring it up to environmental pollution standards. Conditionally, it was part of a mandate by the EPA and the State of Colorado before they were permitted to erect Comanche 3. Altitude is a factor in power plant emissions due to atmospheric pressure and air density; so if it is deemed safe to operate at high altitudes, then it should be safe at low altitudes.,
Among other things, I’d say it’s safe to state that America has pretty much been a world leader where the industrial and technological revolutions are concerned. Given that, and the fact that I just read somewhere that the Europeans pretty much expect us to lead the charge where renewable energy is concerned, we may as well be neighborly and take it to task and share the knowledge [what the hell, we are already the World’s police, we may as well be the custodians too]. Factually speaking, the knowledge is already there, but the reality is that nobody has put forth an advanced effort to produce any serious quantities of affordable power generating wind turbines, or hydrogen plants that could enable the residential sector to live off the grid. If Northumberland County was given the opportunity to provide a cheap energy source, a low emission coal fired power plant, it would set up an opportunity to spur prosperity through other cottage industries relative to the reduction of fossil fuel emissions. Such cottage industries could be akin to the implements for wind power turbines, hydrogen powered electric generators, and other renewable energy resources and consumer products.
As a means to an end, one such, preferably private funded, business model could be a small coal fired power plant, that could eventually pay for itself by selling energy to the surrounding areas, and in the interim supply a cheap source of power to enterprises that manufacture environmentally friendly products that support the renewable energy objectives such as those aforementioned. One of those cottage industries would be wind powered turbines that generate electricity, which would enable the area to break free from the energy provided by the coal fired power plants,
Think back to “Tesla” and the very first Hydro-electric power plant which was built above the Niagara Falls. The man’s ideas were way before their time and the hydro-plant easily paid for itself 100 times over; if memory serves me correctly the hydro-plant was in use for nearly a hundred years. Such great history can be likewise attributed to Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Region, with the Edison Hotel being the first commercial building ever to be lit up by electricity and the Edison Electrical Illuminated Companies of Shamokin, Sunbury, and Mt. Carmel. With a proud history, the Anthracite Region was indeed the premier source of grade “A” coal, when Ole King Coal was still sitting on his throne. Why not let that same proud history, which literally helped to fuel the fires of the industrial revolution, once again light the torch and lead the way to a future of renewable energy resources by becoming a self sustained city as far as its electricity needs are concerned?
Granted this is not an overnight solution and I respectfully request that if someone else has one in mind to please enlighten us all; nonetheless, this is a viable means to an end. Why not take advantage of an abundant resource and put it to work? Do we fear that we might step on big energy’s toes? For certain there will be some obstacles in the path, yet we cannot afford to sit back and wait another 20 years until fuel oil costs raise another $120 per barrel as it has since 1974. We cannot wait until our oil imports reach 80%, or double the amount of our nation’s current oil imports. Not only would implementing ideas such as these be effective in addressing the nature of our current energy problems, but it would also be beneficial in putting Pennsylvanian’s back on track where their manufacturing base is concerned. We have an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of manufacturing products that will soon be in great demand. Products that have not been outsourced by some corporation who made its wealth on the backs of Americans, that later outsourced its resources at the expense of American jobs. This is an opportunity for Northumberland County to reinvent itself. Along with tax incentives for green manufacturing and economically depressed areas, I imagine there must be some sort of government incentive or subsistence for consumer products that are green, whether they are allotted up front or directly to the consumer. Such support from the government would further enable manufacturing companies to migrate to the area, as it makes the market that much more appealing. In fact, if the government would get onboard, and offer an energy rebate of some sort for the production of such energy compliant manufacturing, a coal fired power plant, may not even be a necessity, but it does detract from the overall economic redevelopment of the area by dismissing the catalyst, an initial source for cheap energy that will attract manufacturing. These are just a few ideas I would put on the table if I were forming a Citizens for Affordable Energy Commission. "
To whom it may concern,
I grew up in the Anthracite Coal Region of Pennsylvania; it’s no secret that there is still plenty of coal to be mined in the area. Between the government, the environmentalists, and OSHA they've made it impossible for mine owners to make it worthwhile. I just wanted to point out that we could kill a whole flock of birds with just one stone; just to name a few, there would be no need to commute 50 miles to work everyday, it would help the oil crisis we currently have, and last but not least it would help to rejuvenate an economically depressed area. In Pueblo, Colorado at the Comanche Power Plant (Comanche Units 1 & 2) they just retrofitted, the coal fired power plants with exhaust gas scrubbers to bring it up to environmental pollution standards. Conditionally, it was part of a mandate by the EPA and the State of Colorado before they were permitted to erect Comanche 3. Altitude is a factor in power plant emissions due to atmospheric pressure and air density; so if it is deemed safe to operate at high altitudes, then it should be safe at low altitudes.,
Among other things, I’d say it’s safe to state that America has pretty much been a world leader where the industrial and technological revolutions are concerned. Given that, and the fact that I just read somewhere that the Europeans pretty much expect us to lead the charge where renewable energy is concerned, we may as well be neighborly and take it to task and share the knowledge [what the hell, we are already the World’s police, we may as well be the custodians too]. Factually speaking, the knowledge is already there, but the reality is that nobody has put forth an advanced effort to produce any serious quantities of affordable power generating wind turbines, or hydrogen plants that could enable the residential sector to live off the grid. If Northumberland County was given the opportunity to provide a cheap energy source, a low emission coal fired power plant, it would set up an opportunity to spur prosperity through other cottage industries relative to the reduction of fossil fuel emissions. Such cottage industries could be akin to the implements for wind power turbines, hydrogen powered electric generators, and other renewable energy resources and consumer products.
As a means to an end, one such, preferably private funded, business model could be a small coal fired power plant, that could eventually pay for itself by selling energy to the surrounding areas, and in the interim supply a cheap source of power to enterprises that manufacture environmentally friendly products that support the renewable energy objectives such as those aforementioned. One of those cottage industries would be wind powered turbines that generate electricity, which would enable the area to break free from the energy provided by the coal fired power plants,
Think back to “Tesla” and the very first Hydro-electric power plant which was built above the Niagara Falls. The man’s ideas were way before their time and the hydro-plant easily paid for itself 100 times over; if memory serves me correctly the hydro-plant was in use for nearly a hundred years. Such great history can be likewise attributed to Pennsylvania’s Anthracite Region, with the Edison Hotel being the first commercial building ever to be lit up by electricity and the Edison Electrical Illuminated Companies of Shamokin, Sunbury, and Mt. Carmel. With a proud history, the Anthracite Region was indeed the premier source of grade “A” coal, when Ole King Coal was still sitting on his throne. Why not let that same proud history, which literally helped to fuel the fires of the industrial revolution, once again light the torch and lead the way to a future of renewable energy resources by becoming a self sustained city as far as its electricity needs are concerned?
Granted this is not an overnight solution and I respectfully request that if someone else has one in mind to please enlighten us all; nonetheless, this is a viable means to an end. Why not take advantage of an abundant resource and put it to work? Do we fear that we might step on big energy’s toes? For certain there will be some obstacles in the path, yet we cannot afford to sit back and wait another 20 years until fuel oil costs raise another $120 per barrel as it has since 1974. We cannot wait until our oil imports reach 80%, or double the amount of our nation’s current oil imports. Not only would implementing ideas such as these be effective in addressing the nature of our current energy problems, but it would also be beneficial in putting Pennsylvanian’s back on track where their manufacturing base is concerned. We have an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of manufacturing products that will soon be in great demand. Products that have not been outsourced by some corporation who made its wealth on the backs of Americans, that later outsourced its resources at the expense of American jobs. This is an opportunity for Northumberland County to reinvent itself. Along with tax incentives for green manufacturing and economically depressed areas, I imagine there must be some sort of government incentive or subsistence for consumer products that are green, whether they are allotted up front or directly to the consumer. Such support from the government would further enable manufacturing companies to migrate to the area, as it makes the market that much more appealing. In fact, if the government would get onboard, and offer an energy rebate of some sort for the production of such energy compliant manufacturing, a coal fired power plant, may not even be a necessity, but it does detract from the overall economic redevelopment of the area by dismissing the catalyst, an initial source for cheap energy that will attract manufacturing. These are just a few ideas I would put on the table if I were forming a Citizens for Affordable Energy Commission. "
