Chrin Hopes to Attract Jobs With Green Industrial Park

Chrin Bros. Inc. and PPL Renewable Energy recently unveiled a gas-to-electricity power plant in Glendon, and are hoping to attract industry looking to take advantage of the alternative energy.

Glendon Green Energy Park -- located at the end of Hilton Drive just outside Easton -- consists of six commercial plots, all of which could make use of the renewable energy that converts methane gas from the nearby Chrin landfill to energy.

“By putting the units right there, it gives our industrial park an edge over others,” said David Chismar, Chrin’s project manager for the project. “Our intention is to bring employment to the area.”

Chismar said that Chrin hopes to bring 100-160 jobs to Glendon when all six plots are accounted for with industry or manufacturing making use of the renewable energy source.

The gas is piped from under Route 78 to the plant where methane from the decomposing garbage is converted into electricity.

In addition to the methane, local industry could take heat right off the engines in the plant as well as run commercial boilers directly off the methane gas. Other sources of renewable energy are also being considered.

“This gas energy project will result in low cost, low emissions electricity production and is a great example of how Pennsylvanians benefit from public-private partnerships like this one,” said Michael Krancer, secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

“Given the recent severe heat wave and probably a few more to come this summer, now is a great time for this project to be coming on line to help meet Pennsylvania’s demand and need for electricity.”

Officials project the plant will produce about 25 million kilowatt hours each year, enough electricity to power 2,200 homes. The electricity is being sent into the general grid, but additional pipes were run under Route 78 to supply methane gas to the industrial park.

This plant is the first one PPL has developed in which the unit is not located on the landfill itself. According to Chismar, Glendon Green Energy Park is the only one in Pennsylvania to have a plant located right on the premises of the future commercial complex.

Millennium Design Builders, in partnership with Chrin Brothers Inc., designed, built, and now operates the dual-generator facility. Government participation consisted of a $1 million state economic stimulus grant provided through the Pennsylvania Economic Development Authority. 

Collectively, the $8 million project is expected to reduce greenhouse gases annually by 40 million pounds — the equivalent of removing 3,400 cars from the road.

“We’re pleased that Chrin considers us an important partner with their development of this industrial park,” said PPL spokeswoman Miriam Mylin. "We are committed to increasing the amount of renewable energy available on the market and working with business leaders to develop projects that benefit the environment."