Dec. 21--A team of highly skilled and accomplished "coal region alumni" has come together to volunteer their time and expertise to make an energy incubator possible in Northumberland County.

With hundreds of years of combined experience in the alternative energy and business development fields, the team is brainstorming to make the incubator -- which would be the first of its kind in Pennsylvania -- a success, and ultimately bring jobs to the region.

The incubator, called the Energy Technology Energy Commerce (E-TEC) Incubator, is one of the first steps in the implementation of the county's FUTURES (Fossil Underwriting Technology to Utilize Renewable Energy Sources) program, which was unveiled by county officials at an Oct. 1 press conference.

Steve Bartos, director of the Northumberland County planning commission, began putting the pool of experts together -- as he sought them out and they also came to him. This "brain trust," as Bartos describes it, has been meeting on Saturdays and staying in touch via e-mail and phone calls, formulating a plan to take the incubator from concept to what they hope will be a market-leading reality.

A potential location for the incubator, pending county approval, is the former General Cigar Co. building at Hickory

and Fifth streets in Mount Carmel.

If all goes well, Bartos hopes for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 60,000-square-foot former factory in the spring.

"People want to be a part of something in the area," he said. "There is a group interested in putting in time, pro bono (free), to get this off the ground."

Through FUTURES, the county hopes to use revenue from coal royalties, which are growing because of global demand for anthracite, to help alternative energy producers build in Northumberland County, particularly on expansive empty coal lands in the eastern end.

The incubator would house offices available at low rent costs for new and already established energy companies. Through the incubator, new ideas would be encouraged and a synergy of teamwork and collaboration would be created amid the cooperation of state, county and local government, businesses and financial and higher education institutes.

Bartos, of Mount Carmel, has more than 25 years of experience as a regulatory professional in private industry and government, developing guidance to assist individuals and companies manage various aspects of their programs impacted by compliance, financial and regulatory issues. His expertise is in program and mission development, working with government and private industry to assist entities conduct business in a profitable and cost-effective manner.

He led development of the FUTURES program and the strategic plan for the E-TEC Center in hopes of creating a business-friendly environment and jobs.

"I can't think of a better group than the descendents of the men and women who came here originally and helped industrialize the nation," Bartos said. "Here we are 100 years later with the same goal: A better quality of life for everyone in the region."

The incubator steering committee consists of 22 people, many of whom were born and raised in the coal region, some of whom were still here and others who have since returned to "give something back."

Incubator experience

John Politis, of Elysburg, has more than 25 years' experience in business development within academia, private industry and government. He has degrees from UCLA and Fairleigh Dickinson.

Politis, who in his current position is responsible for the management of the Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) Northumberland Center in Shamokin, grew up in Atlas. He has a strong interest in alternative-energy technology, plus years of experience working with start-up companies.

He has served as director and founder of a business incubator and said an incubator focused on energy alone is unique.

Though start-up businesses have a high failure rate, with the aid of an incubator, the success rate is 80 percent, Politis said.

The start-up cost for the incubator may approach $1 million -- depending on many variables, Politis said.

"I know the money is there, and we have to do all the right things to win at these grants," he said about state and federal funding the group is pursuing.

Politis said LCCC, like other educational institutions, can aid the FUTURES program by providing a skilled workforce that companies building locally will need. LCCC is working on a curriculum that would be tailored to energy technology and management, Politis said.

Among his vast experience, including work with the Department of Defense and at Virginia Polytechnic and Bucknell universities, Politis also helped establish a Business Assistance Center at Kathmandu University in Nepal. Politis also led international business initiatives with several NATO countries.

Solar energy

Vincent O'Grady, whose mother was a Mount Carmel native, brings six years of experience in the solar energy and "green" building fields to the E-TEC effort.

"Renewable energy is a key piece," O'Grady said, "and it will need an incubator for support."

He is a project developer for EPV Solar, Trenton, N.J. The company designs, develops, manufactures and markets low-cost solar panels, or thin-film photovoltaic solar modules, for the growing international renewable energy market.?

O'Grady, of King of Prussia, would like to help companies moving into the area hedge against future electric utility rate increases by employing on-site, clean and renewable solar energy power plants that can reduce long-term energy costs.

Local connection

Warren Altomare, CEO of Family Home Medical, Mount Carmel, has been on the ground floor of the project, literally and figuratively. His business is located on the first floor of the building being considered to house the E-TEC center. He said his role in the project is a "natural fit" because he is a local businessman, with a family business in the borough since 1955.

"All this intelligence and vigor in Mount Carmel is really a neat thing to have happening," he said.