CRANBERRY TWP — Those who attended a recent state Department of Environmental Protection seminar learned how to apply for some of the $12.5 million in grants available for organizations seeking advanced energy projects or alternative energy manufacturing.

Geoff Bristow, regional energy manager at DEP’s northwest region office in Meadville, explained the funding is available through the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, an independent public financing authority that finances energy projects statewide.

The seminar Wednesday outlined what type of energy projects are eligible for the grants and how to apply for them.

Bristow said the emphasis is placed on projects involving renewable technology such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass power.

Funds could be given to companies that manufacture renewable or green products or that power their businesses by energy-saving or sustainable means.

He gave as an example a battery company in New Castle that buys inexpensive power during the night and uses it during the day.

Another potential recipient of the funds would be an inventor who is prepared to demonstrate at a commercial level his energy-efficient or alternative energy product, but lacks the funding, Bristow said.

“We like to look for technologies that are near commercialization and get them to full commercialization,” Bristow said. “We are also looking at more traditional energy projects that are already well established, but looking to get more of a presence in Pennsylvania.”

He said most interest comes from people involved in large solar panel projects, but he stressed that any nonprofit, public, or for-profit organization can try for a grant.

“It’s wide open regarding who can apply,” Bristow said.

However, individual residents who want to install solar panels at their home are not eligible for grants.

“But if a school district wanted to install a solar array and integrate it with a grid, that is something that would be eligible,” Bristow said.

He also used as an example of eligibility an operation that uses coal as its energy source, and wants to switch to biomass.

Bristow said in the past few years much attention has been given to natural gas as an alternative to gasoline, which has left the development of renewable energy technologies behind.

“They said ‘Let’s put an emphasis on that for this round of funding and see what organizations and businesses in Pennsylvania come forward with,’” Bristow said of the authority’s decision to fund renewable energy projects.

Rachel Rekich, global commodity leader at MSA Safety in Cranberry Township, attended the seminar to learn more about grants regarding green energy initiatives.

She said she could not make the grant’s deadlines for this funding cycle, which are in a few weeks.

“But I got good information to understand the program should it be offered again,” Rekich said.

MSA spokesman Mark Deasy said the company is looking for ways to reduce energy use at its Cranberry and Murrysville locations.