 Adjust Text Size
For Immediate Release
August 4, 2009
Back
To: All Republican Senators
You may be interested to learn that in June, the Rendell
Administration awarded a $138,250 public relations and consulting
contract to Pennfuture to advise the public on the availability of
assistance programs under the $650 million Alternative Energy Investment Act,
the Act 129 utility energy conservation programs and federal energy conservation
stimulus funding.
Pennfuture will use this funding to conduct a two-year
outreach and education project to provide basic information about the programs
to at least 100 entities, and technical assistance to at least 30 entities. A
consultant will be paid a pro-rated annual salary of $90,000 to implement the
contract. According to the contract, Pennfuture is the “only entity with a
comprehensive picture of how these programs can be integrated for maximum
benefit.
Although the contract was not signed until mid-June 2009,
it permits Pennfuture to be paid for eligible costs incurred starting July 1,
2008 – despite the fact that the Alternative Energy Investment Act was not
signed until July 9, 2008 and Act 129 was not signed until October 15, 2008.
You may recall that Pennfuture engaged in an extensive lobbying campaign on
behalf of the Rendell Administration to seek passage of these laws.
The grant was awarded using state money under the
Department of Community and Economic Development’s Community Conservation and
Employment Program. These funds are separate and apart from the extensive
public outreach expenditures of DCED, DEP, the state Treasury Department, the
PUC, public utilities and the $100,000 private consultant hired by the Governor
in March. No matching funds are required.
A copy of this contract has been distributed electronically
to your offices. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Attachment:
Rendell – Pennfuture Contract | 
