News Briefs

Posted 9/30/09

Happy 1000th kilowatt

MILANVILLE, PA — The River Reporter has been following the tribulations of our solar panels during a long winter [at Barbara Yeaman’s house on River Road; see “Solar …

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News Briefs

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Happy 1000th kilowatt

MILANVILLE, PA — The River Reporter has been following the tribulations of our solar panels during a long winter [at Barbara Yeaman’s house on River Road; see “Solar in winter,” February 10, and news brief, “Back in business,” February 1], so I’m happy to report that on March 3—following a run of sunny days—our solar meter recorded its 1000th kilowatt hour of electricity.

Each “megawatt” (1000 kilowatts) we generate entitles us to a “renewable energy certificate” that can be auctioned to electric companies in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Buying “REC” certificates helps an electric utility to meet state mandates for renewable energy—and gives homeowners an additional source of income.

— Ed Wesely

Wayne gets recycling grant

REGION — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded a grant of $56,169 to Wayne County in support of its recycling program, according to representatives Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) and Mike Peifer (R-Monroe/Wayne/Pike).

The grant award is based on the 4,021.7 tons of materials recycled in 2008. The Recycling Performance Grant Program provides incentive to Pennsylvania municipalities to increase the amount of materials recovered through recycling.

Progressive radio WFTE starts broadcasting

SCRANTON, PA — WFTE FM, the progressive community radio station for Northeast Pennsylvania, has been granted its license by the FCC and inaugurated a new studio at 930 Meadow Avenue in Scranton. It has started test broadcasting at 90.3FM. WFTE’s 3,000 watt signal will reach a population of about 300,000 in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Susquehanna counties.

The station will now focus on developing program content, increasing volunteer participation and fundraising with an ongoing series of Sunday concerts featuring local musical talent. Initially, WFTE will offer national programs including Democracy Now!, Thom Hartman, Behind the News with Doug Henwood and The Wellness Show with Don Ardell. This will be followed up with original WFTE programs covering regional politics, school affairs, the job situation, the environment and the regional music scene, including Labor Voice, Women

Talking and NEPA Hip Hop.

Frack Alert, an original program that focuses on the impacts of gas drilling, has been available for download only for the past two months, but will now be broadcast as well. Visit www.wfte.org.

Fox trailer blaze called arson

MILANVILLE, PA — A fire that destroyed a trailer on the Milanville property of the family of filmmaker Josh Fox has been determined to be the result of arson. State police fire marshal Trooper Russell Andress said on March 22 that an investigation of the incident has begun.

Fox, who is the director of “Gasland,” which won an award at Sundance Film Festival and received an Oscar nomination, has become a fierce critic of the gas drilling industry. The condition of the property and several citations about it were the subject of emails, which were critical of Fox, circulated last week by members of Northern Wayne Property Owners Alliance.

Michael Fox, Josh’s father and the owner of the property at 729 John Davis Rd., received a notice of violation about the property on August 8, 2010. A second notice of violation, related to the burning of the trailer, was received from the PA Department of Environmental Protection on March 4.

Josh told the Times-Tribune that the fire, which was believed to have been set late last year, was “part of a pattern of vandalism at my house.”

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