Deluzio Announces $200,000 Investment for Beaver County Solar Power Project

The RISE Project is being awarded a Phase Two Department of Energy “Energizing Rural Communities Prize”  

CARNEGIE, PA — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) announced that the Beaver County “Rural Innovation Though Solar Empowerment” Project, or RISE Project, is a winner of the Department of Energy’s Phase Two $200,000 Energizing Rural Communities Prize. A joint project led by RiverWise in partnership with the Pennsylvania Solar Center and New Sun Rising, these funds originate from President Biden’s Infrastructure Law and will help more non-residential entities in Beaver County communities go solar. This $200,000 investment builds off of the RISE Project’s winning proposal in Phase One, which awarded them $100,000 last year. 

“I am thrilled to celebrate this exciting investment in the RISE Project and their community-rooted effort to expand solar energy projects and grow good jobs here in Beaver County,” said Congressman Deluzio. “We need to make sure our communities have the reliable, affordable energy they need to thrive. Solar power projects like this offer big opportunities to reduce our reliance on foreign energy, help protect our air, and grow the local economy—all while making progress toward our climate goals.” 

“When innovation begins to take root in rural communities,” explains Daniel Rossi-Keen, executive director of RiverWise, “That is a sure sign that something significant and widespread is underway. RiverWise is excited to be playing a small role in helping to accelerate solar innovation in rural environmental justice communities in Beaver County. Thanks to the ongoing support of The Biden-Harris Administration, partners on The RISE Project are proving that energy innovation is not only possible in places like Beaver County. We are demonstrating a hunger for innovation that is quickly being turned into reality.” 

The RISE Project will continue to work with identified non-residential prospective solar energy projects in Beaver County, offering technical support on everything from feasibility to finance. Following up on a Phase One goal of placing at least 10 of these projects out to bid by Summer 2024, the project team has utilized its broad network of existing community partners to develop a portfolio of more than 100 potential solar projects that are now at various stages of research, planning and implementation. Those potential solar projects have the combined ability to generate more than 24.6 megawatts of rural solar energy, representing an estimated $74 million in rural energy savings over a 25-year period. Additionally, The RISE Project has engaged in extensive outreach with more than 250 property owners interested in going solar. The RISE Project has also conducted 37 solar energy feasibility studies for sites demonstrating the most promise and willingness to undertake a solar project.

Justice40 communities are ones that have been historically underserved and overburdened by pollution. In Beaver County, this includes the communities of Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, Ambridge, New Brighton, Monaca, Midland, and Freedom Borough. The RISE Project involves an ongoing storytelling and marketing campaign, showcasing the potential for rural solar projects at selected sites, culminating in a public event to celebrate current progress and discuss future steps.

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