PA House Energy Committee tours downtown Harrisburg’s district energy system owned and operated by Cordia Energy
Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus October 10, 2025 | 1:16 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 10 -- On Tuesday, Oct. 7, members of the PA House Energy Committee toured Cordia Energy’s Bruce Mangione Steam Plant in Harrisburg, where they got a closer look at the sustainable infrastructure that powers the Capitol Complex and much of Harrisburg.
“We were honored to host the House Energy Committee this week at our Harrisburg Energy Center, which has proudly served Pennsylvania’s capital for more than a century as a PUC-regulated provider of thermal district energy and distributed power generation,” said Shawn Fiebig, general manager at Cordia.
Cordia’s Harrisburg system was originally constructed in 1912, relying on coal power to generate steam and electricity. Today the plant relies on fuel oil and natural gas to produce steam, chilled water and electricity that serves over 120 customers in downtown Harrisburg, including hospitals, hotels, commercial spaces and the entire Capitol Complex. This is what's known as a district energy system, in which a central plant can efficiently heat and cool many buildings in a given region.
“District energy systems are extremely energy efficient and significantly reduce energy costs for individual consumers and commercial consumers alike. And, over the past century this, technology has been essential to reducing harmful emissions, especially in dense urban spaces,” said state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., majority chair of the House Energy Committee.
“I’m excited to be developing legislation that promotes the development of the next generation of energy networks – thermal energy networks – on college and university campuses across the Commonwealth,” she said.
As the Commonwealth looks to an innovative energy future, thermal energy networks present an opportunity to deploy the next generation of networked energy systems. Like district energy systems, thermal energy networks utilize insulated pipe networks to deliver heating and cooling to consumers.
The utilization of alternative heating and cooling technologies from geothermal, waste heat, surface water and other sources allow thermal energy networks to operate with far less emissions than district energy systems.
Attendees were fascinated to hear more about Cordia’s recently announced GeoExchange Project through which the plant will shift from primarily fossil fuel to geothermal-based operations.
“We’re always looking for ways to reduce environmental harm and boost energy efficiency, and today’s tour was a fascinating example of that,” said state Rep. Heather Boyd, D-Delaware.
“As innovative, next-generation energy solutions like thermal energy networks become more mainstream, it’s vital to make sure the Commonwealth’s regulations can account for these technologies. That’s why I’m developing legislation which would enable gas utilities to integrate the distribution and sale of geothermal heat within thermal energy networks.”
Fiebig said the plant is building on their 100-year legacy to help Pennsylvania advance “toward a cleaner, more sustainable future by expanding our portfolio with low-carbon fuels and next-generation technologies such as geothermal and geoexchange. Together with North America’s Building Trades Unions and other skilled partners, we’re developing and operating reliable, modern energy systems—supported by a highly trained workforce—that align with Pennsylvania’s long-term energy strategy and position Harrisburg to lead in the revitalization of urban energy infrastructure.”
The company plans to complete phase one of the projects, which encompasses the Capitol Complex and surrounding buildings, in 2027. Remaining portions of the system will be integrated into the GeoExchange Network over time.
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Reps. Martin Causer, Elizabeth Fiedler, Melissa Cerrato, Heather Boyd, Nate Davidson, and Arvind Venkat pose for a photo in the equipment lot adjacent to Cordia’s Bruce Mangione Steam Plant on Walnut Street in Harrisburg.
Plant Manager Shawn Fiebig spotlights the original pressure gauges installed in 1912, the year of the plant’s opening.
Rep. Boyd (top) Rep. Cerrato (middle) and Rep. Causer (bottom) discuss day-to-day operations of the plant with staff.
Energy Committee Chairs Elizabeth Fiedler & Martin Causer view detailed, interactive maps of Cordia’s distribution system. Behind them, gauges and sensors monitor the plant’s generation system.