WPPSEF Awards Grant to PennTAP for Alternative Energy Technology Education Project

WPPSEF has awarded a grant to Penn State University’s Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP), amounting in $25,000, to enable a workforce and education development project surrounding alternative energy technology at the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute (FCCTI). PennTAP, a federal, state, and University partnership to stimulate statewide economic development, is working collaboratively with FCCTI, a technical high school, to develop an alternative energy technology program at their facility. Over the course of the project, the FCCTI students will have the opportunity to learn from PennTAP’s technical assistance team as they complete onsite alternative energy assessments.

“We are eager to engage with the students at FCCTI and help build Fayette County’s forward
momentum towards creating a more sustainable and economically efficient community,” PennTAP
Director Tanna Pugh said. “Our team will both ensure the facility is able to support alternative energy
installation and organize student engagement activities surrounding wind, solar, and electric vehicles.”

How Envinity will be involved:

Envinity has partnered with the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) to provide solar education to students from the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute. Members of the Envinity solar team, Kendel Aurand and Jason Grottini, will provide classroom training on solar technology covering industry and technology basics, career opportunities, and how local solar power fits in with mitigating global climate change. As part of the project, Envinity will also conduct a solar feasibility study with the intent of installing a solar array that will be used to generate power at the school and provide years of hands-on solar education for future students. According to Envinity Vice President, Jason Grottini: “The solar industry in Pennsylvania is growing exponentially and there is a severe lack of skilled solar technicians to keep up with demand. With this project, we are continuing with our efforts to educate and train future solar professionals. We have been successful here in Central PA helping to develop a solar workforce, and as we expand our operations into Western PA, we are excited to help the industry grow in that part of the state.” Envinity plans to open a Western PA office in the Summer of 2021. 

About the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program

The Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) at Penn State is a federal, state, and
University partnership to stimulate statewide economic development. PennTAP helps organizations
maximize their competitiveness through in-person consultations, unbiased technical advice, and
connections to Penn State experts, resources, and programs.

About the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund:

The West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF)is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that
invests in the deployment of sustainable energy technologies that benefit West Penn Power ratepayers in
Pennsylvania. WPPSEF investments are focused in three broad categories:
✓ Deployment of sustainable and clean energy technologies;
✓ Deployment of energy efficiency and conservation technologies; and
✓ Facilitating economic development, environmental betterment, and public education as they
relate to sustainable energy deployment in the WPP service region.
Visit http://www.wppsef.orgfor further information. YouTube–Listen to what our project partners have
to say about us.

Read the full release: HERE

Additional Contact: 
Tanna Pugh, Director, PennTAP
[email protected]