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The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) has earmarked almost $72 million in funding for energy efficiency and conservation initiatives in seven states and territories.
The funding, from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will go to projects in Idaho, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Puerto Rico, South Dakota and the U.S. Virgin Islands to create jobs and reduce energy use. Each state or territory received an award of $9,593,500, with the exception of New Jersey, which received $14,400,700.
Announcing
the funding last week, U.S. Energy Secrety Steven Chu said it would
“allow states to make major investments in energy solutions that will
strengthen America’s economy and create jobs at the local level. It
will also promote some of the cheapest, cleanest and most reliable
energy technologies we have – energy efficiency and conservation –
which can be deployed immediately. Local communities can now make
strategic investments to help meet the nation’s long-term clean energy
and climate goals.”
The states receiving funding plan to use it for a variety of purposes. Nevada, for instance, plans to use some of its grant to retrofit 200 emergency vehicles throughout the state with idle-reduction technologies to lower fossil fuel emissions. Idaho will help cities and counties adopt the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code, specifically, the state will award scholarships to code enforcement officials to receive training and provide grants to cities and counties to support code adoption and enforcement. New Jersey will use some of its funding to retrofit state facilities.
Projects eligible for support include the development of an energy efficiency and conservation strategy, energy efficiency audits and retrofits, transportation programs, the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections and installation of renewable energy technologies at municipal buildings.
