NET February Progressive Dine-Out at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley

Join the NET for its Progressive Dine-Out for appetizers, dinner and drinks at Melt, Red Robin and Level3 respectively.

Wondering what a Progressive Dine-out is?

It's a dinner party with a difference - the difference being that individual courses of a meal are held at different locations. What a great way to check out some of the fabulous restaurants in the new Promenade Shops!

You MUST RSVP to attend! Please RSVP to events@netyp.org by Wednesday, February 14th.

When: Friday, February 16, 7 p.m.

Where: Melt, Red Robin and Level3 at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley

Cost: $25-35 depending on how much you order.

State awards grants to local businesses who are improving energy efficiency

The grants, awarded under the Small Business Advantage Grant Program, provide a 50-percent match of up to $7,500 for equipment or processes that reduce energy consumption, promote pollution prevention and increase profitability. Since Governor Rendell launched the program in July 2004, more than $2.8 million has been awarded to more than 500 businesses across the state. “Smart energy use is good for business and a key to cleaner air,” Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty said. “Environmental protection can drive economic growth, and the rewards can be especially significant for small businesses.”

The Small Business Advantage grant program is open to small business owners whose business or facility is located in Pennsylvania. An eligible applicant must be a for-profit business enterprise that is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity that has no more than 100 employees and is a separate legal business entity at the time the application is submitted.

Lehigh County

Valley Cleaners - $7,500 for upgraded dry cleaning equipment to reduce hazardous waste generation.

Northampton County

6th Street Laundromat Plus - $7,500 for high-efficiency washing machines to conserve energy and water and to decrease wastewater generation.

Panda Dry Cleaners - $7,500 for upgraded dry cleaning equipment to reduce hazardous waste generation.

More here.

Rendell Unveils New Green Energy Policy Not Only Good for the Environment, But Will Save Consumers $10 Billion Over 10 Years

Yesterday, Gov. Rendell released his Energy Independence Strategy. The plan will push Pennsylvania into the top tier of states taking steps to cut consumer energy costs, and significantly expand the alternative fuel, clean energy and conservation sectors.

“This plan will cut Pennsylvanians’ energy bills by $10 billion over the next 10 years,” said Governor Rendell. “It will give us the ability to produce enough homegrown fuel to replace every gallon Pennsylvania currently imports from the Persian Gulf.

The first priority for this new energy initiative is to cut energy costs for Pennsylvania consumers. Electric generation rates can swing wildly during the course of the day and at different times of year. A recent study by PJM, the independent electricity grid operator that covers Pennsylvania, showed that cutting power consumption by just 3-5 percent during peak rate periods saves consumers across the state up to $230 million annually.

• The creation of a “Pennsylvania Sunshine” program will help residents pay for up to 50 percent of the cost of installing solar panels on their home or small business. At current electricity rates, the average household could save about $600 a year with a 5 kW system, or solar panels that generate about two-thirds of the electricity consumed in the home.

• Rebates would be provided for customers turning in old, inefficient air conditioners and refrigerators—two of the biggest energy-using appliances in the home—for new models that use at least 15 percent less energy.
  

Power generators and distributors also are required to invest in conservation first—initiatives that help customers cut energy consumption—rather than in costlier options like building new generation or buying power at peaking rates.

“Investing in conservation is critically important and the alternative is unacceptable,” said Governor Rendell. “Without this initiative, Pennsylvanians will need to build the equivalent of five large nuclear or coal-fired power plants at a cost of over $10 billion to meet our growing demand for electricity over the next 15 years.”

“Every year, Pennsylvanians send some $30 billion out of our state just to buy gas and liquid fuels,” the Governor said. “We need to keep those dollars at home and put our own people to work building our state’s energy independent future.

“I have made a priority of investing in farm land and open space preservation, and I am proud to say Pennsylvania now has the biggest program in the country. But even with this effort, we still lose three acres of farmland for every acre we save. If we give our farmers a chance to grow our energy, we can turn that around and help our farming families while we bolster our energy security.”

The commonwealth is already a leader in the production of renewable fuels, and was named again as the top state use of clean energy on the EPA's Top 25 list. One of the largest ethanol plants in the east will be built in the state, and approximately 340 million additional gallons of ethanol production are planned.

The Energy Independence Strategy will codify the “PennSecurity Fuels Initiative” by requiring that we grow and use one billion gallons of clean and renewable fuels. One billion gallons of biofuel represents about 12.5 percent of all fuel consumption in the state, and by 2017, would equal approximately the amount of fuel Pennsylvanians buy from the Persian Gulf. Instead of spending $30 billion to pay for foreign sources of fuel, more of these funds will be spent purchasing fuel from Pennsylvania’s companies and farmers.

Specifically, the Governor’s initiative would mean that every gallon of gasoline sold in Pennsylvania would include 10 percent ethanol, and every gallon of diesel would include an increasing amount (up to 20 percent) of soy or other renewable oil.

Fighting Global Warming

“I think everyone now understands that you cannot deal with energy policy without addressing global warming,” said Governor Rendell. “It is the largest environmental problem we face and Pennsylvania needs to do something about it.

“The efforts I am announcing today to save energy and produce more clean energy are a good first step, but they are only a first step. In the next 90 days I will present a comprehensive strategy to make Pennsylvania a leader in addressing climate change.”

The Energy Independence Fund

The Energy Independence Fund will be used to support the following clean energy activities:

· $244 million – Household appliance rebates and PA Sunshine Grants

· $106 million - Venture capital, grants and loans for expansion of energy companies

· $500 million - Clean energy projects and development or equipment costs for specific energy economic development projects

The Energy Independence Fund will be capitalized by a systems benefits charge on electric power consumers. Charges of this kind are already in place in 15 states and the District of Columbia. At the rate proposed, Pennsylvania’s charge would be lower than all but two of these jurisdictions.

The systems benefits charge is proposed at $0.0005 per kWh of electricity used (five-hundredths-of-a-cent or .5 mills). This charge would cost the average residential customer 45 cents per month. However, the Energy Independence Strategy as a whole is expected to save consumers nearly 15 times more than the cost of this fee. The average residential customer is expected to save $73 per year.

More here.

Another great turnout for First Thursday

The NET had another great turnout last night at Starter's Riverport. Around 70 people showed up to mingle and unwind with their peers. There was even some starpower, as Mayor John Callahan of Bethlehem made an appearance to show his support for young professionals in the area. His presence goes to show that officials in the area are sitting up and taking notice of the NET and young professionals in the area. Our opinion matters as the Lehigh Valley continues to rapidly develop in our cities and surrounding areas.

In addition, a significant amount of attendees elected to become new dues-paying members of the NET as more and more young professionals realize the value of becoming a NET member. Dues paying members are privy to over one hundred discounts they can use throughout the year, as well as a free subscription to Lehigh Valley Style. Plus they get discounts on great NET events like First Thursday, which is free to all dues paying members.

Don't be a square and miss out on the rest of February's events. Check out the events page for more.

Ethnic Eats: The Olive Branch

The Olive Branch
Broadway, just east of the five points
Southside Bethlehem

Food type: Middle Eastern

From Beyond Scrapple:
"Delicious food, reasonable prices, friendly service and the Turkish coffee make this a staple."

Chocolate Lovers Soiree

An Evening of Sinfully Delicious Chocolate Desserts and Sultry Jazz at the Eastonian Condominiums. Attendees will sample desserts created by local restaurants, bakeries, chocolatiers and caterers. Basic admission price is $10.00 per person, but if attendee presents an Easton restaurant receipt (dated February 10th) or a ticket stub from the State Theatre’s ‘07 Michael Amante show they’ll be admitted for half price.

When: Saturday, February 10th 8:00-11:00pm

Where: Eastonian Condominiums, 140 Northampton St, Easton

Cost: $10

NET Connect: Business Card Exchange

Think a business card exchange sounds to flat and outdated for your business needs? Then you haven't been to the NET's Connect: Business Card Exchange. This isn't the pale, male and stale crowd, this event is your peers, your co-workers, your demographic.

This month's business card exchange will be held at Sette Luna, a traditional Italian restaurant in downtown Easton.

Our Business Card Exchanges are always a great success, with lots of connections made with people from many different industries and professions.

Be sure to bring plenty of business cards! Come alone, bring your friends, introduce someone new to the NET, introduce yourself to someone new. Expand your network...Connect.

Refreshments will be served.

Sponsored by Atlantic Homeloans and The Network of Young Professionals.

When: Thursday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.

Where: Sette Luna, 219 Ferry St., Easton

Admission: FREE!!