HARRISBURG, Pa., June 5, 2001 — On behalf of Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary David E. Hess today announced that 22 organizations from 21 counties have been awarded more than $2 million in "Growing Greener" grants to develop innovative water- and sewer-infrastructure technology.
"These grants will help foster new technologies that will find more efficient and cost-effective ways to improve drinking water and sewage-treatment facilities," Secretary Hess said. "These new and innovative technologies will help these organizations go beyond what is needed to be in compliance."
"New or innovative" refers to technology that has gone beyond the research stage, has been demonstrated to work effectively, but has not yet been widely used in Pennsylvania.
Counties, municipalities, municipal authorities and school districts are eligible to apply. A maximum of $100,000 is available for any individual project, and can be used to cover design and construction costs for making improvements to existing drinking water and sewage-treatment facilities.
Projects were evaluated on: the need to address existing environmental and/or public health problems and the resulting benefits to be achieved; the significance of the technology relative to the degree of technological advancement it represents; the ability of the technology to go "beyond compliance"; and "readiness to proceed," which relates to the status of necessary planning and permit approvals, and overall funding commitment for the project.
Gov. Ridge signed the "Growing Greener" initiative into law on Dec. 15, 1999, investing nearly $650 million in Pennsylvania's environment over five years.
For more information on "Growing Greener," visit DEP through the Pennsylvania website at www.state.pa.us or directly at www.GrowingGreener.org.
