KANE — The PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship Inc., a regional nonprofit, received a $32,800 grant from West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund to develop, produce, and distribute educational videos that showcase the deployment of sustainable energy technologies and their impact in the Pennsylvania Wilds region.
Tataboline Enos, executive director of the PA Wilds Center, said, “Sustainable energy and stewardship is a core theme of the PA Wilds work; our brand principles talk about the importance of ‘cultivating the relationship between people and the environment’ and the PA Wilds Design Guide promotes practical, energy efficient building designs.
“So many people on the ground are carrying the torch of sustainability and stewardship in the Pennsylvania Wilds, from the private sector to the public sector, and private citizens,” she continued. “We’re excited to have WPPSEF’s continued support to help tell stories of sustainable energy work in the region and its impact.”
The PA Wilds Center is planning the locations and subjects for filming this year, focusing on feature sites in the Pennsylvania Wilds that showcase the deployment of sustainable energy technologies with a demonstrated positive impact. The videos will debut in 2019.
Enos said the video format will allow for a comprehensive story on how people are making it work.
“The video format allows us to really tell a story, both in words and visually, on the power of sustainable energy practices and to build awareness and understanding. Consider how many of our communities and small businesses struggle with how to revamp these old buildings in our downtowns,” she said. “These structures have so much character but they can be a real challenge to bring up to code and make energy efficient on a small business’ budget.”
PA Wilds has partnered with the energy fund in the past. The organization helped create marketing materials for Elk Country Visitor Center, Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning State Park, Bald Eagle Nature Inn and the visitor center at Kinzua Bridge State Park. All of the facilities are owned by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, a longtime partner in the effort to grow nature tourism in the region.
The fund’s director, Joel Morrison, said they are a proud support of the PA Wilds Center’s efforts with these videos.
“We hope that these videos will be inspire communities, businesses, and individuals across the PA Wilds region to think about their energy choices and how that choice will impact the region and their families,” he said.
