AlB—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 29,1981
Energy Day promotes new power sources
DILLSBURG Energy Saving
and efficient sources of power
were the highlight of the energy
field day sponsored by J&J Agn
products on Saturday.
Displays of all sorts energy
saving equipment was on display
at the Agrispon building; Solar
Panels and wood stoves were in
cluded among the more unique
displays of electric cars and wind
generators.
The mam feature of the energy
day was the demonstration of the
windmill that will be used to
preheat the water for heating the
building. A generator at the top of
the windmill’s tower produces
electricity for batteries, where it is
stored until needed.
“It takes a wind of 7 mph to
generate electricity,” according to
James McHale, general manager
‘Vote Yes
HARRISBURG A statewide
campaign seeking voter approval
of a $3OO million water projects
bond issue (House Bill 1484)
on the November 3 ballot
was kicked off here on Monday.
' Rocky Bleier, honorary chair
man of the Vote Yes For Water
Committee, said, “Water is a
resource we can no longer take for
granted. Most Pennsylvanians
think of water problems as
something that exist only in other
parts of the nation. We now know
that is not true.”
The state’s credit would be used
to borrow money at a lower in
terest rate than otherwise possible.
There are not state subsidies in
volved. The loans would be paid
back by the water companies,
authorities or local governments
which borrowed the irioney.
According to George Wolff,
chairman of the newly-formed
Committee, a wide variety of
organizations are already behind
this effort, including providing
financial support
Don Payne, executive vice
president of the Pennsylvania
Builders Association, presented
the first check to Wolff, a $lOOO
contribution.,
Officers of the Committee are
Chairman Wolff, president of the
Pennsylvania Association of
Conservation District Directors;
Vice Chairwoman Carol
Eshleman, of the League of
Women Voters; Secretary Charles
Wismer, of the Pennsylvania State
Grange; Treasurer Wilson Lewis,
of the Dauphin Deposit Bank in
Harrisburg; Finance Chairman
John Ware, former Umted States
Congressman; Enabling
Legislation Committee Chairman
Paul Hess, of the Pennsylvania
Chamber of Commerce; and
Public Relations Chairman David
Kirkpatrick, of the Association of
Pennsylvania State Colleges and
Umversity Faculties.
The following are some
frequently asked questions about
this $3OO million capital investment
program.
WHY A REFERENDUM?
The Pennsylvania Constitution
specifies that debt can be incurred
on behalf of the Commonwealth for
projects not of an emergency
nature, such as disasters, or not
specifically itemized in a capital
budget, only with the approval of
the voters. There are con
stitutional limitations on projects
specifically itemized in a capital
budget. Because this program has
extensive public unpact, the
Governor and the General
Assembly feel that the voters
should determine pubhc policy on
this issue.
of J&J Agri-products. McHale
added that the average winds
around his building were 10 mph.
McHale had no figures on cost
installation nor how much it would
actually save his company.
“But it will save us money an the
tax credit alone,” he stated.
Another highlight of the energy
fair was the Bussure Electric Cay.
This Dodge colt pickup truck will
travel 80 miles on fully charged
batteries. A windmill similar to the
one previously mentioned is used
to power the batteries. When the
trips are longer than 80 miles, a 20
HP air cooled, gasoline motor
which gives over 70 miles to the
gallon powers the car.
Also featured as an added at
traction to the energy day, was the
earth sheltered home. This home
combmes solar, wood and other
for Water’ campaign
makes first splash
HOW MUCH WILL THESE
LOANS COST PENNSYLVANIA
TAXPAYERS?
No taxpayer dollars will be used
tor these loans. The loan money
will be raised through the sale of
bonds paid back by the companies,
authorities or local governments
borrowing the money. Some ad
ministrative costs will be in the
Commonwealth’s General Budget
in future years (taxpayer dollars).
WHY IS THE COMMONWEALTH
PROPOSING THIS PROGRAM
AT THIS TIME?
Pennsylvania is facing serious
public health and safety, en
vironmental and economic
problems because of deteriorating
water supply systems. Many of
these facilities are small and lack
the necessary capital base,
revenue and management and
technical skill to develop and
maintain adequate water systems.
The vitality of the Commonwealth
depends on restoring the systems
that provide this most precious
resource for our domestic,
agricultural and industrial ac
tivities.
WHY IS THE COMMONWEALTH
ASSISTING
PRIVATE COMPANIES AS
WELL
AS MUNICIPALITIES?
The intent behind the proposed
loan program is to make needed
funds available so that as many
Pennsylvanians as possible can
benefit. Sound water supply
systems, safe dams, flood control
projects and adequte port facilities
benefit the general public by
providing for health and safety and
the basis for economic develop
ment in the Commonwealth.
WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE
TO RECEIVE THESE LOANS?
Generally, any owner of a
community water supply system,
water supply dam or port facility
would be eligible to receive a loan
under this program In addition,
municipalities would be eligible to
receive loans for flood control
projects.
WHAT CRITERIA WILL
BE USED TO DETERMINE
WHICH FACILITIES
RECEIVE LOANS?
The most important factors
which will be considered in
choosing which facilities receive
loans will be those which
demonstrate existing or potential
health, safety or inadequacy
problems. Another important
consideration will be financial
need and the ability to maintain
the facilities and to repay the
loans. In addition, facilities which
would further economic
development efforts in the state
also would be considei ed.
techniques that will hopefully
reduce the amount of energy
needed to heat the home.
The final exhibit featured at the
Energy Day was a demonstration
on Alcohol fuels by J.E. Stabley,
York. Stabley explamed the
distillation process behind alcohol
fuels and had finished products
available on display.
“This process is especially good
for farmers,” Stabley said. The
alcohol produced will make farm
machines-run better, the carbon
dioxide can be used to make plants
grow better in green houses, and
the com that remains in a very
concentrated source of protein.
“The Distiilard Grams contain
three tunes, the protein in, the
same amount of com,” Stabley
stressed.
HOW WILL THE AMOUNT OF
MONEY LOANED FOR IN
DIVIDUAL
FACILITIES BE DETERMINED?
The procedures for ad
ministering the program and the
criteria for setting priorities will
be established in the enabling
legislation, which will be acted
upon after the referendum is ap
proved. The enabling legislation
will be considered in the com
mittee structure in the General
Assembly This will provide an
opportunity for input from the
public and private sectors con
cerning the use ot the funds.
WHO WILL ADMINSITER
THE PROGRAM?
The Department ot En
vironmental Resources would
administer the portions ot the
program related to water supply
systems, dams and Rood control
projects. The Department of
General Services would ad
minister the portions ot the
program relating to restoring port
facilities.
;
WHY IS THE STATE ASSISTING
PRIVATE, PROFIT-MAKING
COMPANIES?
The intent of this loan program is
to make needed funds available to
all community water systems so
that as many Pennsylvanians as
possible can benefit from the
initiative.
WHY IS A REFERENDUM
NECESSARY?
The Pennsylvania Constitution
specifies that debt can be incurred
on behalf of the Commonwealth tor
projects not included m a capital
budget or of an emergency nature
only with the approval of the
voters.
WHY ISSUE BONOS
FOR THIS PROGRAM?
The capital needs of pubhc water
suppliers are more than the
available current revenues. The
funds will be mvested in physical
improvements which will benefit
water users for many years. The
use of borrowed funds with annual
repayments is an appropriate
method ot distributing costs to the
system users over the useful life ot
the improvements.
WHY SHOULD THE STATE
RAISE
THE MONEY RATHER THAN
THE
MUNICIPALITIES OR PRIVATE
COMPANIES?
Many water supply systems
have difficulty raising money
because they are small businesses
or authorities with limited
revenues, and cannot get credit tor
Idige i. >'>s
This windmill was one of the featured exhibits at the J&J
Agri-Spon Products Energy Day held last week. The windmill
is used to preheat the water that heats the Agri-Spon
building, site of the field day.
WHY HAVEN’T
PRIVATE
COMPANIES INCRESED THEIR
RATES
TO FINANCE RESTORATION
PROJECTS?
Private utilities are regulated, in
the public interest, by the Public
Utility Commission. Unlike
municipal water suppliers, which
may raise their rates to reflect
increased costs as long as the rates
are reasonable, private companies
must apply to the PUC for rate
increases. PUC regulations do not
allow private utilities to increase
their rates to pay tor new facilities
or improvements until alter those
facilities are m service. This
means that the private company
cannot finance improvements by
mcreasmg revenues. Many of the
small, private utilities do not have
the financial ability to raise credit
tor such projects.
WHICH WATER SUPPLIERS
ARE REGULATED BY THE
PUC?
All privately owned water supply
systems and those pubhc ones
which provide service outside their
municipal boundaries are
regulated by the PUC.
ISN’T THIS PROGRAM RISKY?
WILL THE COMMONWEALTH
BE
STUCK IF A WATER SUPPLY
SYSTEMS DEFAULTS ON A
LOAN?
One part ot the loan process will
NCFC appoints Howell
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The
National Council ot Farmer
Cooperatives announces the ap
pointment ot James P. Howell as
director, federal energy affairs.
In this post, he will report to the
NCFC 'vice president of energy
resources. He will work on all
aspects ot various energy
proposals before Congress, as well
as energy regulations proposed by
government agencies that pertain
to agriculture.
Howell initially will participate
in the NCFC’s priority effort to
move energy emergency
preparedness legislation to
enactment. He will also acf as
liaison between the NCFC and the
Agricultural Energy Users Con
ference, a Washington ad hoc
committee ot farm and food trade
associations concerned with
be to review the financial and
organizational structure of these
systems. Before granting loans,
the Commonwealth will seek to
assure that water systems become
properly organized and arrange
their finances to be able to repay
the loans. In the event of a default,
the enabling legislation for the
loans can establish procedures for
collection of revenue, including
liens and receiverships to secure
loans. The primary assurance the
Commonwealth has is the
provision of technical
organizational and financial
assistance to these systems atjhe
time they accept loans, to assure
that they will become viable over
the long term.
THESE
WHAT IS DER’S POSITION
ON THE BOND ISSUE?
DER enthusiastically supported
the House Bill to place the question
of the bond issue on the ballot. Now
that the bill has been enacted into
law, the question is strictly one for
the voters. DER supports the bond
issue as presented to the voters.
There role is to now provide tac
tual information based on its ex
pertise in the areas ol water
supply, dams and flood control
when asked by the citizens and
their groups. Should the voters
approve the bond issue, DER will
work with the General Assembly in
preparing- suitable enabling
legislation.
energy supply issues.
A native ot Urbana, Indiana,
Howell is a 1971 political science
graduate of DePauw University.
He has also studied at the
University ot Copenhagen, Den
mark.
Prior to joining the NCFC,
Howell served eight years as a
committee staffer on Capitol Hill.
Since 1976, he has served as a
protessional stall member ot the
Senate Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources His duties
included tracking legislation and
briefing committee members on
legislative developments,
amendments, and future action.
The National Council ot Farmer
Cooperatives is the national
legislative arm for U.S. farmer
cooperatives.