UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In partnership with the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP) at Penn State, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded nearly $5 million in grants to 14 manufacturing projects across nine Pennsylvania counties that focus on reducing industrial emissions and improving air quality.
The funding is the first round of awards from the $40 million Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania (RISE PA) Small-scale Award Track (SAT), a statewide grant program aimed at helping eligible small to mid-size manufacturers reduce energy costs and air pollution. PennTAP was named administrator of the program in 2025 and partners with the DEP to manage the SAT program.
“Pennsylvania has a long industrial history, and these RISE PA grants are going to help manufacturers build their business with lower energy costs, more energy-focused jobs and reduce air pollution for the surrounding communities,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “It’s a commonsense program that improves the economy and environment and continues Pennsylvania’s energy leadership.”
The first year of the SAT grants project implementation is expected to prevent approximately 5,055.3 metric tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere. Companies will save an estimated $572,751 on electricity costs in the first year of the projects.
“The RISE PA program illustrates that Pennsylvania is at the forefront of addressing energy efficiency and its impact on industry, the environment and residents. PennTAP is excited to continue partnering with DEP in this historic effort,” said PennTAP Director Tanna Pugh. “The SAT applications we received in round one show innovation and commitment by manufacturers across the state to implement solutions that significantly reduce emissions and enhance performance, and we look forward to seeing the statewide impact of the projects.”
PennTAP supports SAT applicants by providing no-cost energy assessments that fulfill a key grant application requirement and identify opportunities to lower operational costs and reduce their environmental impact to surrounding communities. PennTAP’s RISE PA team has created key support documents to assist applicants with the process and holds weekly virtual office hours for applicants to ask questions and receive guidance.
The SAT represents one component of the RISE PA grant program, a $396 million statewide industrial decarbonization grant program funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Pollution Reduction Grants. RISE PA offers grants for small, medium and large-scale decarbonization projects at industrial facilities by investing in emissions reduction equipment and energy efficient upgrades.
Round two of the SAT has been closed and awardees are expected to be announced this summer. PennTAP is accepting applications for the third round through April 15. Future rounds will be announced through 2029.