ARIPPA- Outstanding AMR Community Member Offers Grants through the Coalitions

By Anne Daymut, Watershed Coordinator-WPCAMR and Robert Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director

Organized in 1988 ARIPPA is a nonprofit association representing alternative energy generating plants that collectively produce between 3-5% of the electricity in the Pennsylvania-West Virginia region. For over two decades, coal refuse, has been used by ARIPPA member plants to fuel Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) combustion units, with the resultant alkaline ash used to reclaim mined lands. The industry directly or indirectly employs thousands of Commonwealth citizen-workers.

Due in part to ARIPPA member activities, unsightly coal refuse piles and the problems associated with them are gradually disappearing. Thousands of acres of land have been and continue to be reclaimed to a natural state or for productive use and future development. ARIPPA facilities remove and utilize coal refuse from both past and current mining activities, thereby abating acid mine drainage from coal refuse piles. ARIPPA reports that 145 million tons of coal refuse has been processed and converted into alternative energy by their member plants from 1998 to 2008. Further, the technology used to convert coal refuse to electricity, known as Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) technology, produces alkaline-rich ash by-products. There are many beneficial uses for CFB ash including; filling mine pits, as a replacement for lime (for acid mine drainage remediation), for acid mine drainage remediation, as a soil amendment at mining sites, and/or as a concrete additive for roadways.

ARIPPA is continuing to further the work of the AMR community through the following activities:

ARIPPA Fundraiser For EPCAMR and WPCAMR

An informative, educational fundraising event mixer of members of ARIPPA, EPCAMR, & WPCAMR will be held on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at Mountain View CC 100 Elks Club Rd., Boalsburg, PA. Educational topics will include a presentation on the beneficial use of ash in Pennsylvania and a case study, a legislative roundup of issues the AMR community faces, and mine pool mapping of the Lackawanna Valley. Registration costs are $45 for the Educational Mixer and Lunch and $55 for post-lunch golfing. All proceeds will benefit WPCAMR and EPCAMR equally. You must pre-register and pay by June 7, 2013. Please contact Anne Daymut at anne@wpcamr.org for registration details. Lodging is available at Ramada Inn 1450 S. Atherton, State College, PA for $79 +tax per night.

ARIPPA Awards

Now in our fourth year, EPCAMR and WPCAMR have partnered with the Anthracite Region Independent Power Producer’s Association (ARIPPA) to offer a competitive award to watershed organizations working on Abandoned Mine Land (AML) and/or Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) remediation projects. Grants at a maximum of $2,500 will be awarded to at least one eligible environmental organization or Conservation District in the Anthracite Region and one eligible environmental organization or Conservation District in the Bituminous Region in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania actively working on AML/AMD issues. Grant proposals should be for on-the-ground AML/AMD construction projects with a completion date between August 2012 and August 2014. Proposals are due June 30th. The amount granted is dependent upon demonstrated need. Applying organizations must support the mission of ARIPPA, including the removal and conversion of waste coal into alternative energy and the beneficial use of CFB ash for AML/AMD reclamation.

The unique nature of ARIPPA’s work combined with the desire to coordinate efforts with environmentally oriented groups and governmental agencies symbolize a commitment to improving the landscape and environment of our nation.

You can obtain the official Request for Proposals and supporting documents at our website:www.wpcamr.org

You can learn more about ARIPPA at: www.arippa.org

News of Note

Proposals due for the 2013 $5000 AMD/AML ARIPPA Award June 30, 2013. Visitwww.wpcamr.org for more information.

AMD Abatement and Treatment Program funds availible, made possible by the Marcellus Legacy Funds established by ACT 13 of 2012. Visit here for more information.