As part of his plan to secure Hazleton’s financial future, Mayor Lou Barletta today unveiled plans for the city to invest in the construction of a 5-megawatt solar power plant that will provide some of the electricity the city consumes each year.

“Hazleton will become the first city in Pennsylvania to provide its own power through a solar power plant,” Mayor Barletta said. “This project will bring the City of Hazleton to the forefront of renewable energy production. The city, which was once a capitol of anthracite coal production in the United States, will become a leader in green energy.”

• Download a PDF of the presentation slides from the Mayor's speech
• Or view slideshow images in a new window
• NEW! View the Decision Map (.gif image - opens in a new window)
  

The Hazleton solar power plant would be placed on about 40 of the 200 acres of land the city owns at the airport. It will be a 5-megawatt plant. That’s enough to power 725 average American homes for an entire year.

Clean, green solar power generated at the Hazleton plant will be sent into the grid, where it will power City Hall, our streetlights, and other city property. Because the plant is rated at 5 megawatts, it will only be able to provide a part of the electricity requirements of the city.

HPT buses to begin using depot Tuesday morning

(HAZLETON, PA – MONDAY, NOV. 16, 2009) – Officials from the City of Hazleton, led by Mayor Lou Barletta, joined state Sen. Ray Musto and mayors, township supervisors and representatives from surrounding communities to cut the ribbon and open the Church Street Station, the new intermodal transportation center in Downtown Hazleton.

[VIEW IMAGE GALLERY IN NEW WINDOW]

Also joining in the celebration were other federal and state officials and representatives of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce and the economic development agency CAN DO.

Monday’s event marked the grand opening of the $12 million first phase of the long-awaited intermodal project.

The City of Hazleton will be making improvements on Diamond Avenue and Locust Street with a $255,058 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-R).

The City will be repairing Diamond Avenue from Church to Broad streets, and Locust Street from Diamond Avenue to Maple Street.

Download a PDF that describes the Diamond Ave./Locust St. project: CDBG-R Substantial Amendment, spreadsheet for reporting proposed CDBG-R activities, signed and dated certifications, and a signed and dated SF-424. 

CAPTION: Breaking ground for Church Street Station, Hazleton’s new intermodal center, are, from left: Jerry Palko, Berger Construction Company; Dominic Yannuzzi, Alfred Benesch and Company; Bob Fiume, former director of Hazleton Public Transit; Joseph Yannuzzi, Hazleton City Council president; Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta; State Sen. Raphael Musto; Michele Mahovich, representing State Rep. Todd Eachus; Bob Sharp, PennDOT; Donna Palermo, Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce president; George Hludzik, Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce chairman of the board; Renee Craig, acting director of Hazleton Public Transit; and John Koury, The Quandel Group, Inc.

For Immediate Release
Date: August 29, 2008
Contact: The Office of the Mayor @ 570-459-4910

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, joined by local, state and federal transportation officials, Sen. Raphael Musto and representatives from the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce and CAN DO, broke ground today on the $12 million first phase of Church Street Station, the city’s new intermodal center.

The transportation center, which will stretch from Church Street to Laurel Street, just one block south of center city’s Broad Street (Route 93), will provide residents of Greater Hazleton a central hub for local, regional and long-distance bus transportation and help alleviate traffic congestion.