News
Written by Michelle M. Havich
18th February 2021
A planned hydropower plant will supply electricity for county-run operations in Allegheny County, Pa., according to an announcement by County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.
Boston-based Rye Development LLC will finance and build the 17.8-megawatt plant along the Ohio River at the Emsworth Main Channel Dam, near Pittsburgh. Under the terms of a 35-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Rye, the county will buy renewable energy from the hydropower plant.
The project requires approval from the Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the original dam. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with the plant expected to be operational by mid-2023.
February 12, 2021 By Shelley Byrne
A Pennsylvania county has signed an agreement to purchase renewable energy generated through a new hydropower plant planned at an existing dam on the Ohio River.
On January 28, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced the county has entered into a 35-year power purchase agreement with Rye Development, based in Boston, Mass., to purchase the power generated by a 17.8-megawatt, low-impact hydropower facility Rye is building. He called the announcement a landmark day for the county.
“This announcement renews our commitment to the environment, our commitment to addressing climate change and is an investment in our future generations,” Fitzgerald said.
Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announces commitment to locally-generated renewable energy Share Updated: 4:31 PM EST Jan 28, 2021 WTAE Share Updated: 4:31 PM EST Jan 28, 2021 County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced an investment by Allegheny County in locally-generated clean energy Thursday afternoon. The county has entered into a 35-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Rye Development to purchase renewable energy generated by a 17.8 MW low-impact hydropower facility Rye will construct on the Ohio River.For each year that the agreement is in effect, the county will offset emissions equivalent to the entire electrical consumption of over 3,400 households. Over the life of the agreement, the county’s purchases will offset over 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions, roughly equal to 2.6 billion miles driven in a typical passenger vehicle.“This is a landmark day for our county,” said Fitzgerald. �