On Nov. 24, 2020 a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Was Held to Celebrate Windstax Turbine Installation at the Pump House

(11/30/2020) - Pictured: Congressman Mike Doyle, PA Lt. Governor John Fetterman, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, August Carlino, President and CEO of Rivers of Steel; David Landis, President of Epic Metals; and Ronald Gdovic, Ph.D., founder and CEO of WindStax Energy.

On November 24,2020 Rivers of Steel, along with key stakeholders and elected officials hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly installed WindStax 40' wind turbine at the historic Pump House located at 880 E. Waterfront Drive in Munhall, PA.

"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.

Congressman Mike Doyle, Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman, and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald attended to offer a few remarks regarding Rivers of Steel and to assist in the ribbon-cutting.

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 ad 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. 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 Epic Metals President 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 CEO's for Sustainability and a member of the Enterprise Zone Corp. of Braddock.

Ronald Gdovic, Ph.D., the founder and CEO of WindStax Energy said, "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."

Enterprise Zone President William J. Pfoff attended the ceremony and remarked "I'm very impressed with the technology and the foresight of Ronald Gdovic, David Landis and Augie Carlino. David and Augie and their organizations are important members of the Enterprise Zone Corp. We're working with them on many levels and initiatives. They represent the type of people who are working to turn around our local communities and the Mon Valley."