Public Works Director:
Ralph DeRosa
Public Works Highway Garage
660 W. Baltimore Pike
Media, PA 19063
Phone:610-566-5210, ext. 249
ENERGY
Media is a Pennsylvania Clean Energy Community
Thanks to the commitment of Media residents and borough leaders, Media became a designated Pennsylvania Clean Energy Community in fall of 2009. Over 7% of residents now purchase at least part of their electricity from clean, renewable sources such as wind power. Media Borough Council has committed to providing 20% of Media's municipal energy needs from clean sources by 2010. Media was assisted in meeting these goals by the non-profit marketing firm SmartPower, financed by the TRF Sustainable Development Fund. As a reward these organizations donated a 1-kilowatt solar energy system, which was installed on the roof of the Media Youth Center.
Media Powers Up With Sunshine-Nine Solar Arrays and Counting
With the completion of solar photovoltaic systems at the Media Highway Department Garage and the Media Youth Center in 2010, the Borough now has solar on eight municipal buildings and has partnered with Delaware County to install a ninth array on a courthouse building. Visit the new sign on the Media Elementary School lawn (State Street side) to see the locations.
Since 2004, when the first array was mounted on the Armory building (now the site of Trader Joe's and the PA Veterans Museum), Media solar arrays have produced over 130,000 kWh of clean, renewable energy. Now, with a capacity of 41 kW, the Media Borough solar arrays can generate nearly 45,000 kWh per year, saving about $5,500 annually as well as CO2 emissions equivalent to 3,635 gallons of gas consumed.
Media's solar systems were obtained through grants from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Energy Harvest program with additional support from the TRF Sustainable Development Fund.
Conceived by Councilman Pete Alyanakian, the solar initiative has won several awards. In 2006, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty presented Media Borough Council with the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence for 2006 in a ceremony at the Media Theatre at Monroe and State Streets. Other awards include two from Penn Future for "Cleanest Borough in PA", and the Southeastern PA Associations of Environmental Advisory Committees Environmental Recognition Award.
Look for new solar arrays on other Media roofs as well-several Media businesses and homes have also recently seized the opportunity to go solar and more are planned. Kathleen McGinty, former head of the PA Department of Environmental Protection, once dubbed Media Borough the "Solar Capital of PA"-we are keeping a firm grip on the title!