Two McKean County entities are a little closer to realizing new energy efficient standards, thanks to recent grant awards.

Port Allegany School District and the Kane Passive House will each receive grant money awarded by the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA), the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced Tuesday. The funding will be used for energy efficient projects.

Port Allegany Superintendent Gary Buchsen said the district has been working with Snyder Electric since January 2019, looking at “potential energy-saving options,” both at the high school and elementary school. Snyder helped the district to get the grant.

He said the school board just approved Phase 1 of the energy project, which will include replacing the roof at the high school and installing energy-efficient controls and LED lighting at both the high school and elementary school.

“The nice thing is we’re going to be able to use the $204,763 grant to offset some of the cost,” Buchsen added.

According to the DEP, the school district will use the money to install more than 6,400 LED lamps/fixtures along with cooler/freezer controls.

One of the unique aspects of the Port Allegany project is it will provide a learning opportunity for some of the students, according to the DEP.

The agency explained, “Mentored by professionals in the clean energy industry, high school students will develop presentations on the project and its outcomes. The students will present to the school district directors, Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9, and other groups.”

The DEP said they will confirm the energy savings by taking measurements before and after installation.

As far as when the work will be done, the superintendent explained it will be a “rolling timeline,” with some of the work being able to be done in the winter, but the roof replacement at the high school will not be done until summer.

More projects with a similar goal may in the district’s future, according to Buchsen, who noted that the school board continues to work with Snyder to look at other projects that can bring potential savings.

In addition to Snyder, Business Manager Adam Moate also contributed to getting the projects this far, Buchsen said.

He added that he is “really pleased” the district received the grant, as it will be “great for the school district and great for the taxpayers.”

Buchsen noted the grant was “pretty competitive,” with 53 applicants from around the state, but only 11 of them receiving funding.

In Kane Borough, the Kane Passive House was awarded a $225,000 grant. The project is a collaborative effort of 63 Fraley Street LLC and the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF).

Joel Morrison, WPPSEF director, said, “PEDA recently notified us that they will provide a grant to 63 Fraley Street for use to help renovate the building to Passive House standards.”

The Kane Passive House project isn’t just about renovating a building, it is about creating an example of innovative building techniques and is a project that has the wellbeing of the community in mind, according to Morrison.

“The project has garnered national attention,” he noted.

Morrison talked about the project’s goals.

“Important aspects of the project are to demonstrate the Passive House technologies, to work with the local workforce so they become familiar with Passive House, to purchase local building materials whenever possible, and to demonstrate how high-performance buildings can contribute to the local economy and enrich lives within the community,” he said. “Our target date for completion is Fall 2021.

“Energy education/outreach and supporting economic development will be a primary focus of our efforts,” he added.

The DEP explained the Kane Passive House project involves “renovating a vacant three-story building in Kane Borough into an ultra-energy-efficient showcase. The house will approach net zero energy status through Passive House practices and certified components, properly sized heating and cooling equipment, and a roof-mounted solar panel.”

Altogether, PEDA awarded “$1.7 million in COVID-19 Restart Grants to 11 energy efficiency, solar energy, high-performance building, and electric vehicle charging projects halted by the pandemic,” the DEP stated in a press release.