Governor Pat Quinn this week  announced $5 million for Ingersoll Machine Tools, Inc. to develop wind energy turbine components and create and retain more than 150 green jobs at its facility in Rockford. The funding is through the federal American Recovery and [...]]]> Stimulus Funds will Help Produce Wind Turbine Parts at Ingersoll Machine Tools’ Rockford Facility

Governor Pat Quinn this week  announced $5 million for Ingersoll Machine Tools, Inc. to develop wind energy turbine components and create and retain more than 150 green jobs at its facility in Rockford. The funding is through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“We must invest in green projects that create jobs, improve the environment and further our long-term energy goals,” said Governor Quinn. “This important funding will create and retain more than 150 green jobs in the Rockford area and marks another step forward as we continue the fight to strengthen our economy and move Illinois forward.”

Ingersoll will use the grant to purchase and retrofit equipment that will give the company the ability to produce wind turbine parts. The grant will allow Ingersoll to transfer its proprietary technology and experience supplying composite manufacturing systems for the aviation industry to the wind industry. The project will help create 87 jobs and retain 69 jobs at Ingersoll.

The grant was awarded through the Green Industry Business Development Program, a component of the state’s Energy Plan, administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and funded by ARRA. Over $100 million in federal recovery funding is available to implement the plan, which is Illinois’ most comprehensive effort to date to achieve significant gains in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

“President Barack Obama and the US Congress asked the Department of Energy to do something about global warming, to create green careers and to build a new economy for America. With the help of the Governor and the state of Illinois, this project accomplishes all three,” said Brian Quirke, US Department of Energy Director of Communications in the Midwest.

Illinois currently ranks third in the nation for the installation of new wind energy generation – behind only Texas and Colorado – and wind energy accounts for approximately 3 percent of generation in Illinois. In Illinois, wind generation has attracted over $1.3 billion in investment in the state and created over 3,500 jobs.

Governor Quinn made the announcement at Ingersoll’s headquarters in Rockford, and was joined by Tino Oldani, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ingersoll Machine Tools; Hon. Larry Morrissey, Mayor, City of Rockford; Rep. Chuck Jefferson (D-Rockford); and Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford).

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March 18, 2010

Education, Training Providers Invited to Apply for $4.6 Million for Green Job Training Opportunities

Harrisburg – The Department of Labor & Industry is offering $4.6 million in grants to enable education and training providers to create green, regionally-focused training opportunities for unemployed, underemployed and dislocated workers.  The [...]]]> News for Immediate Release – State of Pennsylvania

March 18, 2010

Education, Training Providers Invited to Apply for $4.6 Million for Green Job Training Opportunities

Harrisburg – The Department of Labor & Industry is offering $4.6 million in grants to enable education and training providers to create green, regionally-focused training opportunities for unemployed, underemployed and dislocated workers.  The funding is provided through a competitive grant received by the commonwealth through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Grant applications are due by April 28.

Successful applicants’ proposals will complement the department’s current workforce training and economic recovery efforts in the green jobs sector. They include apprenticeship programs, on-the-job training advanced skills training for the current workforce, basic skill training, curriculum development and customized training.

Additional information and a grant application are available at www.paworkforce.state.pa.us, click “Recovery Act Workforce Information” in the left navigation area, then click “Workforce Development,” then “Workforce Development Grants.”

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For more information about how federal Recovery Act funds are being invested to help Pennsylvania residents and businesses, visit http://www.recovery.pa.gov/portal/server.pt/community/recovery_pa_gov/5994.

Media contact: Christopher S. Manlove, 717-787-7530

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The Masonry Heater Association (MHA) of North America will host a masonry heater building workshop April 16 to the 22nd, 2010 at Wildacres Retreat, 1565 Wildacres Road, Little Switzerland, North Carolina, as reported in the EarthTimes.  Expert masons will be leading the classes all week.  Learn how this old technology [...]]]>

Masonry heater by Gene Hedin

The Masonry Heater Association (MHA) of North America will host a masonry heater building workshop April 16 to the 22^nd, 2010 at Wildacres Retreat, 1565 Wildacres Road, Little Switzerland, North Carolina, as reported in the EarthTimes.  Expert masons will be leading the classes all week.  Learn how this old technology is being used today as an alternative and green heating method.

 A masonry heater is a special type of fireplace made of stone, brick, stucco or tile which will actually heat a home safely and comfortably.  Masonry heaters burn wood, which is North America’s cheapest and most abundant bio-fuel.  We currently use less than 10 percent of available deadfall timber from our forests.  Masonry heaters burn efficiently and with very low emissions.

 Masonry heaters work on the principal of thermal storage due to the considerable thermal mass of the materials used in their construction (most of them are heavy, often weighing tons).  The best masonry heaters soak up most of the heat from the wood blaze within the brick or stone firebox through a cleverly designed system of channels or chambers which “harvest” heat from the hot gases as they pass by.  This energy migrates through the masonry slowly, until it reaches the surface where it “illuminates” the room with invisible rays of heat known as infrared radiation.  This way heat from a fire in the morning can still be warming a home in the evening.  Another benefit of this technology is that the heat is not as dry as from such sources as electric heat.

While these high efficiency, green heaters have always been popular in Europe, they have experienced significant growth as more homeowners look for greener alternatives to fossil fuels.  They are also increasingly popular due to the wide range of design possibilities, allowing architects and interior designers to make a place’s heating system a focal design point.

In addition to the type of introductory workshop to be held at the Wildacres Retreat, the Masonry Heater Association also offers a certification program, for the professional heater builder.  This gives masons an additional “green” element to their existing skill set.  To obtain more information on the Association and this program, please visit http://www.mha-net.org/

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