(File Photo)

(Reported by Danielle Smith of Keystone News Service)

(Meadville, PA) A small rural town in northwest Pennsylvania is using a combination of state and federal funds to implement “green” projects as part of its Climate Action Plan. Meadville’s plan started in 2018 by measuring its greenhouse gas emissions and setting local goals to reduce them, and to make the community more resilient. Autumn Vogel on the Meadville City Council says an Environmental Advisory Council was created, and government funding has allowed them to open the bidding on a rooftop solar array on the Victor C. Leap Building located downtown. Vogel says it’s been financially feasible due to the Treasury’s “direct pay” program, which will decrease the cost of the solar installation. Meadville is also one of two Pennsylvania communities, along with Reading, to receive support from the Green Building Alliance Resilient Communities Program, a private nonprofit.