Stourbridge Project Solar Installation Wins Environmental Award, Press Event Oct. 27th

HONESDALE – The Wayne County Commissioners, Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support (SEEDS) and the Clean Energy Co-op Inc. are pleased to announce that the solar installation at the Stourbridge Project has been awarded an Environmental Partnership Award from the Northeast PA Environmental Partners. 

The Stourbridge Solar Project is receiving this award in recognition of the public-private partnership that owns and operates a solar array, a new educational kiosk, and produced a mini-documentary about the project to increase public awareness and knowledge about solar energy. The solar array, completed last December, is located on the roof of a former elementary school, owned by the Wayne County government, that hosts the county’s technology business incubator and public co-working space. The 33.2kW solar array produces about 40MWh annually, or roughly 40-50% of the building’s electricity usage, and offsets the burning of more than 5 tons of coal and reducing harmful emissions. The solar project was led by the Clean Energy Co-op and nominated by SEEDS for the award. 

A press event to celebrate the award and featuring the unveiling of the new solar educational kiosk, designed and constructed by artist/maker-in-residence, Lisa Glover, on behalf of SEEDS and the Wayne County Arts Alliance.  The event will be held on  Wednesday, October 27th at 11AM at the Stourbridge Project, located at 646 Park Street, Honesdale, PA. 

The Northeast PA Environmental Partners are comprised of the PA Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources (DCNR), PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), PPL Corporation, Procter & Gamble Paper Products, and Wilkes University. The virtual award ceremony will be held on November 10th, 2021. More information available at https://pecpa.org/event/2021-northeast-environmental-partnership-awards-dinner/.

The Stourbridge Project is a coalition between the Wayne County Government, Wayne Economic Development Corporation and Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance who embraced an opportunity to reinvigorate and repurpose this piece of Honesdale history. These three partners work in sync to strategically diversify the area’s industry base and to help grow local technology and innovative small businesses via public access and programming at the facility in downtown Honesdale. Visit www.StourbridgeProject.com for more information.

The Clean Energy Co-op Inc. was started within the Community Solar Circle of SEEDS in 2013. Since 2014, the Co-op is an independent member-owned cooperative organization driving solar investment in eastern Pennsylvania, with 4 solar projects completed so far. For more information visit www.cleanenergy.coop.  

SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support) of Northeastern Pennsylvania is a nonprofit environmental education organization based in Honesdale, promoting sustainable energy and sustainable living in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Upper Delaware region. Its goals include improving the health of our environment and local economy through energy efficiency and sustainability practices, such as conservation and recycling. For more information about SEEDS, visit www.seedsgroup.net, call 570-245-1256 or email Olga@seedsgroup.net.