Bucks Winery Goes Green

From the inbox:

State Rep. Steven J. Santarsiero, D-Bucks, announced today that Crossing Vineyards and Winery has been awarded a $21,093 Small Business Energy Efficiency grant by the state Department of Environmental Protection for its progressive efforts in energy savings.

Santarsiero said the grant funds will be used for a geothermal heating system, insulation and lighting to conserve energy.

"Geothermal systems are the most environmentally responsible heating systems available today," Santarsiero said. "Their high efficiency helps reduce the requirement for utilities to burn fossil fuels, which in turn decreases carbon dioxide emissions to the environment."

Santarsiero said Crossing Vineyards is on the forefront of energy-saving technology. In recent years, the winery has installed solar panels, which he said save 12.5 barrels of oil per year and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 8,600 pounds a year.

With a goal to be completely off the electric grid in five or fewer years, the winery is consistent with the goal of legislation co-sponsored by Santarsiero (H.B. 80), which would increase Tier I requirements in Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards beginning in 2014 to 18 percent by 2024. Tier I requirements delineate the proportion of electricity that electric distribution companies must purchase from renewable sources such as wind and solar.