KANE – This could be the year the Kane Area School District
realizes its drive to become the area “pilots” using alternative
energy – and from a local source – to heat the high school on
Hemlock Avenue.
Currently the school is heated by gas. The source used would be
wood from the Allegheny National Forest.
The project would benefit both the school and forest. The school
would see a savings in its heating costs and the forest would be
able to clear out small diameter trees that have no value.
“The (Allegheny National Forest) people have been very helpful –
we are interested in financial savings and also to integrate into
the community,” said Kane Superintendent Sandra Chlopecki. “It
would also help our vocational programs such as the agricultural
mechanics and forestry programs at the high school. We live near
the forest and it could help local foresters.”
Last year, Kane district officials went as far as the second
round in vying for a portion of a $4 million grant offered by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service, State and Private
Forestry Technology Marketing Unit through a 2006 Woody Biomass
Grant Program.
That program is active again this year, but with some changed
language that may make it easier for the district to be chosen to
receive funds in the project – up to $250,000.
John Rook, facilities manager for the school district, who is
actually writing for the grant, said the grant requirements have
changed to include more than the western region of the country as
possible recipients. He said last year it was geared more to
clean-up woody debris to help prevent forest fires.
“Before it was mainly for hazardous fuel reduction – small bush
and twigs on the ground,” said Rook. “In our forest it is not that
big a problem. We felt we were not competitive in the grant (last
year). But the rewrite includes insect infestation and possible
water pollutants, saving air quality …”
Lois Demarco, a silviculturist and ecosystem management team
leader for the national forest, said the final decision should be
made by mid-March.
She said changes in the grant wording, or offering, were made
nationally to expand the emphasis. Taking the smaller low-valued
trees would benefit the forest.
Rook said the district’s pre-application (this year) was
accepted as one of 33 out of a total of 90 applicants. The second
round of applications are due in early February and Rook is
currently working on it.
“We did receive the Pennsylvania Energy Harvest Grant of
$355,653 before school started,” added Rook. Those grant funds
would be applied to the project, as well.
Chlopecki said this year, based on last year’s proposal, they
met with the national forest people who reviewed their previous
application and gave them some pointers.
“There were areas that needed some improvement. We tried to
refine what we put in there,” added Chlopecki. “We are not changing
our plan, we are changing the way we are presenting it.”
Last year, Rook visited a school district in Kingsley that is
using an alternative energy source and has been for 15 years. He
said he saw the value in what the source has provided.
Also during his research last year, he found a company in St.
Marys that has the capabilities to make the equipment needed to
carry out the process of renewable energy.
The company he learned about is Advanced Recycling Equipment
Inc.
Chlopecki said they would have to go through a bidding process
before deciding on the company they will use in developing their
alternative energy plan, but said that same company – Advanced
Recycling Equipment Inc. – will probably be on the list.
