Solar power has fast become one of the most-crowded sectors in Pennsylvania, which ranks behind only California in total number of solar jobs. In Bethlehem, CEWA Technologies has managed to carve out its own niche with a laser focus, one that involves a solar power collector that will focus the sun's rays on a certain spot, heating up fluid and creating energy. The system differs from the ever-common photovoltaic arrays.

CEWA's work will compete with the average solar power system , which can take up a lot of space and prove costly and time-consuming to install. CEWA's existing system, which generates one or two kilowatts, installs in less than 48 hours. The dishes the company is currently developing put out 30 kilowatts at peak production and are small enough to fit on a roof or even hillsides not conducive to standard solar systems. The dishes also will have aluminum coatings that are replaceable and cheaper than the current standard.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners awarded CEWA, founded in 2009, with a $146,000 loan in September, 2010, to develop and prototype its "toroid solar collector" at Northampton Community College's main campus in Bethlehem Township. The company anticipates completing the prototype by Spring, 2011, which could lead to further expansion.