NEWVILLE – Two area state parks are part of nearly two dozen that will receive battery-powered equipment and other improvements to reduce the carbon footprint and save park budget money.
Pine Grove Furnace and Colonel Denning will receive new string trimmers, leaf blowers and chainsaws.
“We are replacing gasoline-powered with battery-powered tools to further reduce our carbon footprint and lessen the noise from this equipment that impacts state park visitors enjoying the quiet of nature,” explained Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn.
During the Wolf administration, DCNR’s green energy projects have resulted in the installation of 19 solar arrays; the addition of 33 plug in EV and hybrid vehicles; public EV charging stations at 33 state park and forest locations; and energy efficiency measures that will save more than $30 million over 20 years and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5,110 tons annually.
Other sustainability work at Col. Denning includes weather proofing buildings, changing out heating and cooling systems for energy efficiency, adding electric vehicle charging stations, a new energy efficient showerhouse, and the planting of 75 trees and shrubs in the riparian zone along Doubling Run to assist with improving water quality and capturing carbon.
