Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony to Celebrate WindStax Turbine Installation at the Pump House
Congressman Mike Doyle, Lt. Governor John Fetterman, and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald scheduled to speak on November 24.
Homestead, PA (November 17, 2020)—Rivers of Steel is excited to announce that it, along with key stakeholders and elected officials, will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly installed WindStax 40’ wind turbine at the historic Pump House on November 24, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., located at 880 E. Waterfront Drive in Munhall, Pennsylvania.
“The installation of WindStax turbine is a symbol of one of the industries of our region’s future, installed in a location significant to our region’s past,” said August Carlino, president and CEO of Rivers of Steel. “It is reflective of our commitment to sustainability and would not have been possible without the generosity of the Epic Metals Corporation Charitable Foundation and the efforts of WindStax Energy.”
Congressman Mike Doyle, Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald are scheduled to be on hand to offer a few remarks regarding Rivers of Steel and to assist in the ribbon-cutting. State Senator Jay Costa has been invited to attend, as well.
“The reclamation of the Carrie Furnace brownfield site, which Rivers of Steel calls home, was a long, arduous process to mediate the pollution of generations past. It’s rewarding to see investment by Rivers of Steel, albeit on an adjacent site, into a renewable energy resource like the windstax turbine installation,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “The care taken by Rivers of Steel to ensure that the air and water and ground remain unpolluted is a practice that we should all work towards and celebrate.”
The WindStax 40′ turbine is comprised of state-of-the-art, large, vertical axis turbines, which will offset the utility expenses at the Pump House with renewable energy, providing long-term support for Rivers of Steel. The wind turbine converts wind energy to electricity and sends that electricity back to the utility grid through net-metering. This electricity is measured by a meter, recorded by Duquesne Light, and will enable Rivers of Steel to receive a credit against its utility bill.
In addition to comments given by the elected officials and Rivers of Steel, key stakeholders David Landis, president of Epic Metals, and Ronald Gdovic, Ph.D., the founder, and CEO of WindStax Energy, will speak about the impact of this project.
“Massive power plants and electric utility infrastructure supported Pittsburgh’s manufacturing base since the Industrial Revolution,” said Gdovic. “Renewable energy has the potential to support industries of the future. Personally, it is an honor to provide a new energy solution to the historic Pump House in the shadows of the former mill sites in Homestead where my ancestors worked as immigrants in the past.”
WindStax Energy is a full-service developer of integrated renewable energy solutions. WindStax makes the largest vertical wind turbines in the United States. Their award-winning wind and solar microgrids are changing the industry’s perspective of “energy as a commodity” to “energy as an opportunity.”
Funding for the wind turbine purchase was donated by the Epic Metals Corporation Charitable Foundation, directed by David Landis in support of Rivers of Steel, its work, and programming at the Pump House.
Epic Metals, located across the Monongahela River in Braddock and Rankin, has been manufacturing steel roof and floor deck ceiling systems for more than 52 years. Beginning in 2010, Epic Metals recognized the importance of sustainability. At its main office and manufacturing locations there are solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicle charging stations to reduce Epic’s carbon footprint. Mr. Landis is a member of Pittsburgh’s CEOs for Sustainability and on the Board of Trustees of the Braddock Carnegie Library.
The Pump House dates back to 1892 when it was built by the Carnegie Steel Company. That same year it was the site of the Battle of Homestead, a defining moment in the nation’s labor history. Today, the building and its adjacent water tower help to interpret the nationally significant events of 1892 and highlight the illustrious steel-making legacy of the region.
The Pump House is one of four historical attractions managed by Rivers of Steel. As the owner and steward of the Pump House and surrounding grounds, River of Steel secures its industrial and cultural legacy for future generations, while allowing for its use as a public and private multi-use site.
In the spring through fall seasons, it functions as a trailhead for the Great Allegheny Passage. The public is welcome to visit its grounds, which offer views of the Monongahela River, the Carrie Blast furnaces, industrial relics and public art, including a meditative stone labyrinth. Interpretive panels on-site help visitors gain insight into the importance of this historic site.
Private and group tours of the interior of the Pump House are available by appointment. It is also a popular venue for wedding receptions and family celebrations.
For more information about the Pump House or Rivers of Steel in general, contact Carly McCoy, director of marketing, via cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.
About Rivers of Steel
Founded on the principles of heritage development, community partnership, and a reverence for the region’s natural and shared resources, Rivers of Steel strengthens the economic and cultural fabric of western Pennsylvania by fostering dynamic initiatives and transformative experiences.
Rivers of Steel showcases the artistry and innovation of our region’s industrial and cultural heritage through its historical and 21st-century attractions―offering unique experiences via tours, workshops, exhibitions, festivals, and more. Behind the scenes, Rivers of Steel supports economic revitalization—working at the grassroots level to deepen community partnerships, promote heritage tourism, and preserve local recreational and cultural resources for future generations.
Contact Carly McCoy at 412.464.4020, ext. 243 or by emailing cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.
Rivers of Steel | The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Avenue, Homestead PA 15120
riversofsteel.com
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