Obama
Administration Awards More than $153 Million for State
Energy Programs $49.2 Million Awarded To New York
U.S.
Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced
more than $153 million in Recovery Act funding to support
energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in Arkansas,
Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, New York, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands. Under DOE’s State Energy
Program (SEP), states and territories have proposed statewide
plans that prioritize energy savings, create or retain
jobs, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. This initiative is part of the
Obama Administration’s national strategy to support
job growth, while making a historic down payment on clean
energy and conservation.
“This funding
will provide an important boost for state economies, help
to put Americans back to work, and move us toward energy
independence,” said Secretary Chu. “It reflects
our commitment to support innovative state and local strategies
to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy while
insisting that taxpayer dollars be spent responsibly.”
The following
states and territories are receiving 40% of their total
SEP funding authorized under the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act today: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,
Montana, New York, and the Virgin Islands.
Under the Recovery
Act, DOE expanded the types of activities eligible for
SEP funding, which include energy audits, building retrofits,
education and training efforts, transportation programs
to increase the use of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles,
and new financing mechanisms to promote energy efficiency
and renewable energy investments.
The Recovery
Act appropriated $3.1 billion to the State Energy Program
to help achieve national energy independence goals and
promote local economic recovery.
New York will direct its State Energy Program Recovery Act funding to programs
that will accelerate the introduction of alternative-fuel vehicles into New
York communities, boost the energy efficiency of buildings across the state,
increase compliance with the state’s energy codes, and expand the use
of solar power.
The Clean Fleet
program will provide funding for eligible cities, counties,
public school districts, public colleges and universities
and others — to accelerate the deployment of alternative
fuel vehicles in their fleets. Recovery Act funding will
also provide financial support for energy efficiency and
retrofit projects in the municipal, K-12 public schools,
public university, hospital and not-for-profit sectors.
A third project
aims to achieve at least 90 percent compliance in the commercial
and residential sectors for a new statewide Energy Code.
With Recovery Act funding, the state will offer technical
assistance and local compliance support to local municipal
officials, as well as those professions who work closely
with energy code buildings, such as architects, engineers,
and home builders. Finally, New York will provide SEP funding
to encourage installation of a range of solar photovoltaic
(PV) and solar thermal systems across the state, and to
provide training opportunities for installers.
After demonstrating
successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive
an additional $61.5 million, for a total of $123 million.
