Pennsylvania Puts Nearly $3.5 Million Behind Cleaner, More Efficient Small Businesses

Mark Brost

Aug 12

3 min read

Pennsylvania is awarding nearly $3.5 million to 15 small businesses pursuing energy-efficiency, renewable-energy, electrification, and carbon-reduction projects. The grants are expected to save recipients more than $470,000 in first-year energy costs while cutting approximately 2,500 metric tons of greenhouse-gas emissions.

Key takeaways

Fifteen Pennsylvania businesses will share nearly $3.5 million through the RISE PA Small-scale Award Track.
Projects are projected to save more than $470,000 annually in energy costs.
Planned improvements include LED lighting, HVAC upgrades, solar, microgrids, electrification, waste-heat recovery, and carbon capture.
Pennsylvania’s fourth application round is open through August 17, 2026.

The awards were announced by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Jessica Shirley at Tröegs Independent Brewing in Dauphin County, one of the recipients. The funding comes through RISE PA, a $396 million industrial decarbonization initiative supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants.

Energy efficiency projects lead the awards

Several recipients are replacing aging building systems with more efficient equipment. Planned upgrades include HVAC replacements, controls, air compressors, kilns, heat-recovery systems, and interior lighting.

Lighting projects are scheduled at Dunmore International, Accupac, Plain and Fancy Custom Cabinetry, and West Salisbury Foundry. These businesses will replace older lighting with high-efficiency LED fixtures, a practical strategy that can reduce electricity consumption, maintenance frequency, and facility operating costs. For contractors and property managers planning similar retrofits, spec-ready LED SKUs, bulk availability, and rebate guidance can help simplify project execution.

The largest projected annual energy savings among the efficiency projects are associated with Curry Rail Services’ compressed-air upgrade, Ball Corporation’s waste-heat recovery system, and Standard Bent Glass’ new kiln. Together, the projects demonstrate how targeted equipment improvements can lower both energy demand and production costs.

Renewable energy and electrification expand

The awards also support on-site power generation and fuel switching. Fox Meadows Creamery will install rooftop solar expected to offset 99.6% of its annual electricity use, while A Rifken Company will replace its existing rooftop solar system with one three times larger. DMI Companies will add a wind-turbine microgrid with battery storage.

The New Enterprise Stone & Lime will replace two diesel generators with line power at its crushing plant. The project is expected to reduce on-site fuel use while improving the facility’s emissions profile.

Carbon reuse at Tröegs

Tröegs Brewing Company received $204,284 for a carbon-dioxide reclamation system. The equipment will capture CO2 generated during fermentation and reuse it later in beverage production, reducing the amount the brewery must purchase.

The project is expected to deliver approximately $53,416 in annual energy-related savings. Across all awards, the projected emissions reduction is comparable to removing about 575 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from the road for one year.

Program offers technical assistance

RISE PA’s $40 million Small-scale Award Track is administered by Penn State’s Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program. Participating businesses receive no-cost energy assessments to identify ways to reduce operating expenses and environmental impacts.

The second award round follows the program’s initial awards announced in April. Additional rounds are planned through 2029, and businesses considering facility retrofits should evaluate lighting, HVAC, controls, and renewable-energy opportunities early. Led Lumenaires supports commercial and industrial projects with product selection, layouts, rebate assistance, volume pricing, and fast fulfillment for professional-grade LED systems.

Shapiro Administration Invests Nearly $3.5 Million to Help Small Businesses Cut Energy Costs and Reduce Air Pollution Across Pennsylvania | Department of Environmental Protection, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov).