FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
Oct. 10, 2008 Chuck Ardo
717-783-1116
Governor Rendell Announces Statewide Summit to Help Pennsylvanians Stay Warm All Winter
HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell will convene a statewide summit of local government, community, religious, labor and volunteer leaders on Oct. 14 to develop strategies to help Pennsylvanians stretch their heating resources so that they can stay warm all winter.
Seven regional meetings, chaired by local United Way leaders and members of the Governor’s cabinet, will begin at 9 a.m. Governor Rendell will listen to reports from each region beginning at 11:30 a.m. via an interactive, Internet-based video conference.
“Sharply rising energy costs will make it very difficult for many Pennsylvanians to keep their families warm and safe during the coldest months,” Governor Rendell said. “That is why we need to enlist local partners in helping every citizen understand how they can utilize available assistance programs, as well as take steps to reduce their energy usage at home.”
The meetings will bring together key community organizations to form a Stay Warm Coordinating Council that will meet regularly to educate community members, help with home energy solutions and, where necessary, respond to crisis situations.
At the local meetings, participants will be asked to:
- Inventory local resources for weatherization, consumer education, outreach and assistance and emergency response (at the household level);
- Identify gaps in the local inventory and develop strategies to address the gaps;
- Create venues to reach families and older adults to educate them how to better control their home heating costs and stretch their energy budgets;
- Maximize the use of volunteers to help neighbors cut energy use by simple weatherization improvements; and
- Develop an ongoing communication structure to keep participating organizations focused and working together on Stay Warm efforts.
- Identify two or three concrete commitments that the local organizations agree to undertake over the winter to help families stay warm.
“I want to especially thank the United Way and the AFL-CIO for helping to bring together this group and putting their resources behind this important initiative,” Governor Rendell said. “This effort will show that when we work together, no Pennsylvanian will struggle without heat during the winter.”
The summit will be similar to a statewide energy conference convened by the Governor in 2005.
###
EDITOR’S NOTE: The regional meetings will begin at 9 a.m. at the following locations:
Southeastern Pennsylvania
National Constitution Center
Independence Mall
525 Arch St.
Philadelphia
Cabinet member: Estelle B. Richman, Secretary of Public Welfare
Johnstown/Altoona (Laurel Highlands)
Hiram G. Andrews Center
727 Goucher St.
Johnstown
Cabinet member: Mike Hall, Deputy Secretary, Office of Long Term Living
Lehigh Valley
Intermediate Unit 21
4210 Independence Drive
Schnecksville
Cabinet member: Gerald Zahorchak, Secretary, Department of Education
Southwestern Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Public Schools
341 S. Bellefield Ave., Room 251
Pittsburgh
Cabinet member: Dennis Yablonsky, Secretary, Department of Community & Economic Development
Erie
Intermediate Unit 5
252 Waterford St.
Erie
Cabinet member: Everette James, Acting Secretary, Department of Health
Scranton
University of Scranton
DeNaples Center, Room 405
900 Mulberry St.
Scranton
Cabinet member: Sandi Vito, Acting Secretary, Department of Labor & Industry
Harrisburg/York/Lancaster
York County School of Technology
2179 S. Queen St.
York
Cabinet member: John Hanger, Acting Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection
