ALLENTOWN, Pa., — Two Lehigh Valley cities are getting help to mitigate the effects of climate change, and save money, through a state program aimed at improving energy efficiency.
Allentown and Easton have been chosen for this year’s cohort of the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Shared Energy Manager program, Christopher Nafe, a DEP energy program specialist, confirmed Tuesday morning.
The program has been "extremely helpful," said Allentown spokesperson Genesis Ortega.
"They’ve provided support to us in applying for about $200,000 worth of funding for an EV fleet pilot," Ortega said in a Wednesday morning email. "They’re also assisting with efforts to analyze city building energy use that will help identify cost-saving and emissions reducing energy efficiency measures that can be implemented in the future.
"Generally, they’ve been providing valuable third-party technical expertise to ensure the City is getting full value of many opportunities that are available to us currently through both State and Federal programs."
LehighValleyNews.com has reached out to Easton officials for comment.
It’s the first time Allentown has been included, but it’s Easton’s second turn in the program, which pairs municipalities with an engineering company to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. In its third year, the program has expanded from five participants to more than a dozen after an injection of federal funding.
For Allentown, projects include “[electric vehicle] charging infrastructure pilot, benchmarking buildings for energy management. Solar array recommissioning,” according to the “April 2024 Report to the Citizens Advisory Council,” posted online.
Easton’s project is described as “Guaranteed Energy Savings Agreement information, [electric vehicle] charging community plan.”
What’s a shared energy manager?
The Shared Energy Manager program aims to help governments across the commonwealth by pairing them with an engineering company to complete energy assessments and renewable energy studies, as well as help implement climate action plans.
These services are tailored to each municipality’s needs and goals and are not a "one size fits all" approach to energy management.Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
“The energy manager works with the program participants to review existing plans and project proposals, make recommendations, and perform assessment services to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions,” according to the DEP’s website. “These services are tailored to each municipality’s needs and goals and are not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to energy management.”
As in previous years, officials selected Wilson Engineering Services as the energy manager for this cohort.
The manager can help with energy benchmarking; Energy Star certification facility verification; audits and energy conservation measure analysis and recommendation for municipal buildings, street lighting and traffic lighting, and wastewater treatment facilities; renewable energy feasibility evaluation, including solar photovoltaic and renewable thermal technologies; fleet electrification analysis; and more.
After the first year, state officials estimated the potential savings totaled $425,672, with a total potential emissions reduction of 1,812 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The following cohort’s savings grew to an estimated $441,962, but emissions reductions fell to 352 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Easton first joined the program in its second year, saving an estimated $379,596 and reducing 64 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, according to the DEP.
This year’s program expanded after officials received a $3.5 million grant from U.S. Department of Energy through the State Energy Program Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. With the funding, the program has been expanded, and officials expect 80 participating municipalities over the next four years.
For more information, visit the DEP’s website.
