Aug. 21--PPL's heating proposal is the last plan standing, following Honeywell International's abrupt exit last week.

"Coal stays," commissioners Chairwoman Mantura M. Gallagher said after Wednesday's commissioners meeting, ending months of speculation that the Schuylkill County trademark could fall by the wayside in favor of natural gas.

At the meeting, the commissioners approved a motion to put PPL's plan on public display for 10 days, finally revealing key details, such as the price of installation -- $2,628,582. Honeywell, which had been negotiating with the county since last year, withdrew its proposal Sunday.

With PPL's plan, coal appears to have a permanent home in the heart of Schuylkill County government.

"This plan is the best of both worlds," Commissioner Frank J. Staudenmeier said after the meeting. "It makes economic sense."

The plan calls for four new boilers -- two that burn natural gas and two that burn coal, according to PPL documents made available Wednesday. The system would allow coal or gas to be used, depending on which is cheaper and how much heat is needed at the time.

The plan, much like Honeywell's previous proposals, also includes energy-efficient, retro-fitted lighting systems, which officials have said constitutes much of the $3.6 million savings.

The savings are projected over 15 years and exceed Honeywell's promised savings by about $300,000.

Aaron Campbell, Honeywell spokesman, would not elaborate on the reasons behind the company's sudden backtrack.

"I'm a little shocked," county engineer Lisa Mahall said of Honeywell's withdrawal.

The company had submitted two formal proposals. The first switched heating at the county prison and courthouse to natural gas while also installing new lighting systems.

The second updated proposal kept coal at the county courthouse while using gas at the prison.

County officials said they, too, were not given specific reasons for Honeywell's decision.

PPL's Energy Services Program -- the document released for public view, as required by Pennsylvania's Act 77 -- offers long-awaited details.

The plan includes a new natural gas boiler at Rest Haven nursing facility, Schuylkill Haven, to be used in conjunction with the heating system already in place.

It upgrades the boiler rooms themselves at the prison and courthouse, bringing them into compliance with Pennsylvania code.

PPL will also provide training to courthouse employees on how to use the new systems and listed the names of six companies -- McClure Company, Harrisburg; GR Sponaugle, Harrisburg; Atlantic Energy Concepts, Reading; KR Concrete, Summit Station; Burnham, Lancaster, and Losch Boiler, Schuylkill Haven -- to install various parts of the system.

While officials said the PPL plan has not been officially voted on, any and all plans were to be submitted by 3 p.m. Sunday and released Wednesday for public view.

With only PPL responding, all other plans appear to be off the table.

Mahall said she expects installation work to begin in May 2009, pushing back earlier plans to have it in place by "the next heating season."

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