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Expansion of Alternative Energy at Aqua America Fueled by Environmental Interests and Costs

^{Published on 2011-06-03 04:15:45 - Market Wire}
 

BRYN MAWR, Pa.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Aqua America, Inc. (NYSE: WTR) Regional President Karl Kyriss said that his companya™s increasing use of alternative energy is driven by both environmental interests and costs. aElectricity is generally the largest expense of any public water utility, second only to labor. Therefore, in the case of solar, the benefit expands beyond the environment to the pockets of our ratepayers when we can reduce our power costs,a said Kyriss, whose remarks were made at the Citizens for Pennsylvaniaa™s Future (PennFuture) 11^th Annual Clean Energy Conference in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania during a panel discussion entitled aShowcasing Pennsylvaniaa™s Clean Energy Success.a

"When you consider the fact that water utilities were created out of concern for the environment and public health, it makes perfect sense to have a sustainable clean energy source to power our water treatment plant."

Aqua Pennsylvania built one of the largest solar farms on the East coast to power its Ingrama™s Mill Water Treatment Plant in East Bradford Township, which serves drinking water to the West Chester, Pennsylvania area. The 4.5 acre, 1.0 megawatt photovoltaic solar farm earned the company the Green Power: Turn it On! award from PennFuture as well as the Governora™s Award for Environmental Excellence, which is presented each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to highlight the best in environmental innovation and expertise throughout the Commonwealth.

Kyriss said Aqua Pennsylvania has plans to build a similar solar facility at its Pickering water treatment complexa"the largest among all of the companya™s treatment facilitiesa"located in Schuylkill Township, Chester County. That facility delivers water to customers in Chester and Delaware counties. He added that Aqua Americaa™s New Jersey subsidiary, is planning the construction of two solar facilities to power well stations in that state later this year.

aWhen you consider the fact that water utilities were created out of concern for the environment and public health, it makes perfect sense to have a sustainable clean energy source to power our water treatment plant.a

In addition to solar power, Aqua America companies are making the best use of hybrid vehicles and the use of synthetic oils in its fleet engines. Additionally, in southeastern Pennsylvania, the company is transitioning, all of its diesel-powered vehicles and equipment to biodiesel and is testing this alternative fuel on dump trucks, gang trucks, backhoes, air compressors and a portion of its wastewater fleet. In 2010, Aqua America increased its average miles-per-gallon, drove 44,000 fewer miles, and saved 58,000 gallons of fuel. aJust like with energy cost savings, vehicle fuel costs savings are also passed on to our customers,a said Kyriss.

Aqua Pennsylvania provides water and wastewater services to approximately 1.4 million residents across the state, including nearly 1.3 million residents in southeastern Pennsylvania. It is a subsidiary of Aqua America, Inc., one of the largest U.S.-based publicly traded water and wastewater utility holding companies, serving approximately 3million residents in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, Maine, Missouri, and Georgia. Aqua America is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol WTR.

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