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Happy Holidays!
From the
Staff of AES
January not only marks the beginning of a new year and bright new
possibilities, but for everyone here at Alternative Environmental
Solutions, it also marks our one year anniversary in our new
Lancaster location. If you haven't heard by now, we have relocated
our office to Urban Place. It is a beautifully restored Brownfields
property and former home of a manufacturing facility. If you would
like to update our contact information, it is listed below.
Alternative
Environmental Solutions
480 New Holland Avenue, Suite 8203
Lancaster PA, 17602
phone (717) 517-5000
toll free (888) 844- 2371
fax (717) 517- 5004
~Look for an invitation coming soon to our Open House.~
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Tax Advantages to Going
Green
by Daryl
Valley
Recently, energy conservation has become a hot topic. The
recognition that energy conservation equals savings has encouraged
recent legislation on the national and state fronts, encouraging
conservation practices and green technology use in return for tax
credits, deductions, or other rebates. Recent amendments to the
federal government's Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), under
the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), extended,
or modified, many of these incentives for the 2009 tax year and
beyond. In Pennsylvania, the Alternative Energy Investment Act
became law in July 2008, and provides $650 million in funding to
support investments in energy conservation and efficiency by
spurring development, innovation, and use of alternative energy
solutions. A few of these items described below, could be useful to
both commercial/industrial and residential interests.
Solar technology, since its development in the 1950s, is quickly
becoming more affordable and advanced. With the new legislation in
place, residential and commercial building owners and contractors
can save up to 50% on solar power-related or other energy
efficiency improvements. Residential solar systems installed
between 2009 and 2016, can net homeowners a one-time 30% credit on
their federal taxes. The details of Pennsylvania's solar incentive
program are currently being finalized by the Pennsylvania DEP. With
the use of solar devices for electricity, heating, etc., the local
electric utility may actually pay for electricity , depending on
your usage, which can result in a return on investment (ROI) in as
little as 15 years, compared to the old 25 to 30 year estimate.
Under new federal amendments, contractors and developers can
receive up to $2,000 for the construction of energy-efficient homes
including solar and other technologies, that achieve a 30% to 50%
efficiency standard in heating and cooling efficiency (when
compared to a 'traditional' residence), for homes constructed
through 2009.
Since 2004, Pennsylvania's Small Business Advantage Grant Program
has provided a 50% match of up to $7,500 for equipment or processes
that reduce energy use, promote pollution prevention, and increase
profitability, if the business demonstrates a minimum annual 15%
economic gain through energy conservation/pollution prevention as a
direct result of the project. Under this program, the Pollution
Prevention Assistance Account provides loans of up to $100,000 at
2% interest for projects that reduce waste, pollution, or energy
use. Also, current federal law allows property owners to deduct the
cost of energy-efficient features installed in commercial buildings
from their federal taxes, including solar energy and other
improvements. This deductible is based on a building's square
footage and the amount of energy savings realized through reduction
in a building's heating/cooling, ventilation, hot water, and
interior lighting energy demand. The EESA increased the amount
deductible to $1.80 per square foot of building floor space for
buildings that reach a 50% energy savings, and extended the
deduction through the end of 2013.
You may have heard of the new "smart meter" technology
provision included in recent state legislation. This portion of the
law requires every home and business to be equipped with a
"smart meter" over the next 15 years and have access to
time- sensitive pricing plans. A smart meter gives home and
business energy users the ability to use energy at times when rates
are the least expensive and cut consumption when rates are higher. This
feature of the legislation is expected to be part of an estimated
savings of at least $500 million over the next five years for
Pennsylvania consumers and more than $800 million annually after
2013, particularly in light of the state's anticipated electric
rate increases due to industry deregulation in 2010.
The items noted above are only a portion of new alternative energy,
conservation, and efficiency incentives currently available to
consumers in Pennsylvania and the country at large. AES is currently
working with several of our clients to promote energy efficiency
and cost savings through the use of existing and newer
technologies, in areas such as commercial/industrial lighting, and
we expect to introduce new options to our clients as they become
available.
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The National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) - an Overview
By Peter
Voci
With the advent of a new administration, and their focus on
environmental issues and infrastructure, we are presenting an
overview of the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.
The National Environmental Policy Act signed into law on January 1,
1970, establishes national environmental policy and goals for the
protection, maintenance, and enhancement of the environment as well
as a process for implementing these goals within federal agencies.
Basically, NEPA requires that federal agencies integrate
environmental values into decision making and planning when
considering actions, such as the building of a highway, a dam, or a
power plant and to also propose reasonable and adequate alternative
actions to achieve those goals. The law also requires that the
public be able to voice their opinions, concerns, or objections to
the proposed action in an open and forum called the scoping
process.
All federal agencies are bound by NEPA requirements. One section of
NEPA is the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). In 1978, CEQ
implemented regulations regarding how federal agencies will meet
the NEPA requirements. The regulations address the procedural
provisions and process of NEPA, including preparation of
Environmental Impact Statements (EISs).
There are three levels of NEPA required analysis depending on
whether or not an undertaking could significantly affect the
environment. These three levels include: categorical exclusion
determination; preparation of an environmental assessment/finding
of no significant impact (EA/FONSI); and preparation of an
environmental impact statement (EIS).
At the first level, an action which has been previously determined
as having no significant environmental impact may be categorically
excluded from a detailed environmental analysis. A number of
agencies have developed lists of actions which are normally
excluded from environmental evaluation under their NEPA
regulations.
At the second level of analysis, a federal agency prepares a
written environmental assessment (EA) determining whether or not a
federal undertaking would significantly affect the environment.
Generally, an EA includes brief discussions of the need for the
proposal, alternatives (when there is an unresolved conflict
concerning alternative uses of available resources), the
environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives, and
a listing of agencies and persons consulted. If the answer is no,
the agency issues a finding of no significant impact (FONSI). The
FONSI may address measures which an agency will take to reduce
potentially significant impacts.
If the EA determines that the environmental consequences of a
proposed federal undertaking are significant, an EIS is prepared.
An EIS includes discussions of the purpose of and need for the
action, alternatives, the affected environment, the environmental
consequences of the proposed action, lists of preparers, agencies,
organizations and persons to whom the statement is sent, an index,
and an appendix (if any). The public, other federal agencies and
outside parties may provide input into the preparation of an EIS
and then comment on the draft EIS when it is completed.
If a federal agency anticipates that an undertaking may
significantly impact the environment, or if a project is
environmentally controversial, a federal agency may choose to
prepare an EIS without having to first prepare an EA.
At the time of its decision, a final EIS is prepared and the agency
will prepare a public record of its decision. It will address how
the findings of the EIS, including alternatives, were incorporated
into the agency's decision-making process.
The EPA has a unique responsibility in the NEPA review process. The
EPA is required to review and publicly comment on the environmental
impacts of major federal actions including actions which are the
subject of EISs. If the EPA determines that the action is
environmentally unsatisfactory, it is required to refer the matter
to CEQ.
The public also has an important role in the NEPA process. During
scoping, they provide input on what issues should be addressed in
an EIS and comment on the findings the agency's NEPA documents.
Public participation in the process entails attending NEPA- related
hearings and submission of comments directly to the lead agency.
The lead agency must take into account all comments received from
the public and other parties on NEPA documents.
Environmental consultants of many different areas of expertise will
perform the work required to evaluate the environmental impact from
a proposed project. For example, a biologist may be given the task
of divining whether an endangered species may be present in a given
area. As another example, an environmental professional or
scientist may conduct a study on increased noise pollution.
This and further information on the National Environmental Policy
Act can be found on the EPA's NEPA website at http://www.epa.gov/Compliance/nepa/ .
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We're Hiring
By John N. Ward, President
We are continuing to look for qualified professionals to join our
team. We appreciate your referrals of business and now are seeking
your referrals for qualified environmental and geologic consulting
professionals. If you know of anyone who is seeking a change and a
challenging new direction in their career, where creativity and
solutions-oriented thinking really make a different, please pass on
our contact information.
Find out more....
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Our customers have approached us with problems, we've
understood what needed to be done and we've provided appropriate
solutions. Our mission statement, indeed our company as a whole, is
centered on meeting this objective. May we put our quality, client-centered
environmental solutions to work for you too?
On behalf of the staff of Alternative Environmental
Solutions, Inc., I invite you to experience the value we add to your
business.
Sincerely,
Brian J. Beahan
Alternative
Environmental Solutions
email: aes1@altenv.com
phone:
717-517-5000
fax:
717-517-5004
web: http://www.altenv.com
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