HA WLEY , Pa., April 25, 2003 --With a snip of the scissors the green ribbon across the front door of PPL's Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center fell away and the new 12,000- square-foot facility located near Hawley, Pa., was officially open for business.
More than 100 local community leaders joined PPL April 22 to celebrate the recent unveiling of the building that features a 160-seat auditorium, science lab, numerous nature exhibits, an environmental library and a cut glass collection, in addition to offices for the Wallenpaupack Historical Society, Lake Wallenpaupack Watershed Management District and PPL's lake superintendent and staff.
"This learning center will give thousands of students and tourists a chance to understand nature better," said Jim Seif, vice president for PPL Corporate Services. "At Lake Wallenpaupack we will do more than simply teach students about water monitoring. They will go out on the lake, take samples to analyze the health of the lake and examine these samples in the new science lab."
Seif said this kind of hands-on learning will make the $1.7 million facility a popular destination for both students and outdoor enthusiasts. Through its PPL Project Earth program, the company also will hold environmental teacher workshops und seminars in the center, he said.
Project Earth is the company's effort to promote environmental education and focus its resources on generating and delivering energy in an environmentally responsible manner.
The celebration included speeches by former lake Superintendent Dave Lamberton, Pike County Commissioner Karl Wagner, state Sen. Charles Lemmond (R-Pike) and Seif.
Lemmond was instrumental in helping PPL acquire a $500,000 state grant to help fund part of the facility's cost.
"This center is a reality today because of community partners like Senator Lemmond," said Seif. "I hope that all of our other community partners feel this building belongs to them as well."
Seif said the building will give community groups that share PPL's interest in the environment. recreation and matters of cultural or historical significance a place to meet and conduct business.
Tens of thousands of people visit the nearby S, 700-acre lake year-round. It was created by PPL in 1926 and provides water power for the company's Wallenpaupack hydroelectric plant.
In addition to its environmental value, Lake Wallenpaupack also helps sustain the economy of Wayne and Pike counties in northeastern Pennsylvania.
PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), headquartered in Allentown, Pa.. controls about 11,500 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania. the United Kingdom and Latin America.
