Business News in the Lehigh Valley, 2/27/13

Good morning Lehigh Valley, and happy Wednesday!

PPL stated yesterday that the price of electricity for most PPL customers will drop from 7.769 cents per kilowatt hour to 6.935 on March 1. A spokesman with PPL said the change will reduce the bill by about $8.30 per month for a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill yesterday to legalize internet gambling in the state. The bill included setting a 10-year trial period for online betting, and raising the taxes on the Atlantic City casinos’ online winnings from 10 to 15 percent.


Air Products and Chemicals Inc. of Trexlertown announced it has won the second largest order ever for an air separation unit in China. The company has been doing business in China since 1987.

Allentown city residents will not be granted a chance to get a say in Allentown's water privatization plan due to an issue with the legality of the petition. The May vote would have allowed citizens to vote on selling or leasing any city asset worth more than $10 million.

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Green Tip of the Month - from Constellation Energy

This is a guest blog from Constellation Energy regarding tips to help you go green and also to save you some green!

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)…Did You Know?
One available means to incorporate renewable energy into an energy portfolio is through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

RECs are designed to recognize the environmental attributes of renewable energy such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass. REC purchases support the operation and financing of renewable energy and lessen our dependence on fossil fuel generation. The most immediate environmental impact is the avoidance of harmful chemicals and greenhouse gases that would have been released into the atmosphere by fossil fuel generated sources. RECs also can be applied by businesses toward Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and similar environmental programs.  Learn more at constellation.com/lehigh.

On-Site Power…Did You Know? 
Constructing on-site renewable generation is another viable and potentially profitable means of limiting dependency on fossil fuels and ensuring reliability of power supplies.

On-site power systems may generate enough renewable electricity to directly meet the energy demands of the business and its operational systems. These systems also drastically reduce emissions and reduce demand on local electric grids, freeing up hundreds of watts of power. Learn more at constellation.com/lehigh.

  

Load Response…Did You Know?
Businesses that enroll in a load response program can earn economic incentives by reducing their electricity load at times when the power grid is under stress.

When demand starts to increase on the hottest or coldest days of the year, businesses participating in a load response program agree to reduce their energy output for a specific period of time to make more energy available on the regional power grid. This helps prevent blackouts and power failures. Once enrolled, businesses earn payment for participating in the program and receive additional payments for reducing their energy output when the regional power grid is under stress. Many businesses may have backup generation, and in many areas these businesses can be enrolled in load response programs for payments in the tens of thousands of dollars.  Learn more at constellation.com/lehigh.

Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)…Did You Know?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), HVAC accounts for 40%–60% of the energy used in U.S. commercial buildings. That makes it a good target for energy savings.

Scheduled maintenance on HVAC is important, including cleaning burners and air conditioning coils, replacing and cleaning air filters, and checking ducts and pipe insulation for damage. Without proper maintenance, this system will run inefficiently, wasting energy.  Learn more at constellation.com/lehigh.

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