Governor Rendell: Penn State to Lead Philadelphia-Based Team That Will Pioneer New Energy-Efficient Building Designs

Consortium to Receive up to $122 million for Research at Philadelphia Navy Yard

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that a team led by The Pennsylvania State University will receive up to $122 million over the next five years from the U.S. Department of Energy to establish an Energy Innovation Hub focused on developing technologies to make buildings more energy efficient.

Located at the Philadelphia Navy Yard Clean Energy campus, the Energy Innovation Hub will bring together leading researchers from academia, two U.S. National Laboratories and the private sector in an ambitious effort to develop energy-efficient building designs that will save energy, cut pollution, and position the United States as a leader in this industry, according to federal officials.

"This significant federal funding to establish the Energy Innovation Hub will build on Pennsylvania's growing reputation as a clean energy leader," said Governor Rendell. "In addition to helping to protect our environment, investments in clean energy create good-paying jobs. And the great ideas that will come from this groundbreaking energy lab will help to reduce our nation's reliance on foreign energy sources - representing a win-win for taxpayers."

In April, Governor Rendell wrote to U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu to express the commonwealth's strong support for the project, noting that the state has authorized $30 million for capital facilities at the Navy Yard.

Federal officials said buildings account for nearly 40 percent of U.S. energy consumption and carbon emissions. Developing systems to improve building efficiency will provide significant benefits – reducing energy use and bills, cutting pollution, and creating jobs in the building efficiency industry.

To learn more about the project, the U.S. Department of Energy's announcement is available online at http://www.energy.gov/news/9380.htm.

Media contact: Gary Tuma, 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor