U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced more than $204 million in Recovery Act funding to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in ten states under the State Energy Program (SEP). Additional funds will be provided to the states upon successful implementation of the programs as follows:
Arizona - $ 22 million to establish a revolving loan program providing a sustainable financing mechanism for small business owners who are looking to fund energy efficient building improvements or install solar projects at their facilities. The state will offer revolving loan funds for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in commercial buildings, along with loans to manufacturers of renewable energy or energy efficiency equipment and technologies. An additional $27 million in funding is available.
Florida - $50.4 million for the creation of several loan and grant programs to promote investment and commercialization of various energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Additional funding available - $63 million.
Idaho - $11.4 million to launch a set of programs including a Renewable Energy Business Development Program and two initiatives to encourage state schools to reduce energy costs by adopting renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Other initiatives seek to stimulate the state’s economy by creating new zoning regulations in order to attract renewable energy developers to build new projects. Additional funding available - $14 million.
Kansas - $15.3 million for several initiatives that will benefit overall efficiency for commercial buildings, and increase financial options for investing in renewable energy. A portion of the funding will go toward developing a new utility rate pricing plan as well as an energy audit rebate plan for home and small-business owners. Additional funding available - $19 million.
Minnesota - $21.7 million to increase the amount of renewable energy produced in the state. Minnesota will also award grants to small, medium, and large businesses to help provide for the design, financing and installation of various energy efficiency improvements. Additional funding available - $27 million.
Michigan - $32.8 million will be used on four long term goals, the creation of markets for renewable energy systems, the creation of jobs in renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors, the reduction of energy consumption in public buildings by 20 % by 2012, and the establishment of green communities. Additional funding available - 41 million.
We will provide additional information about this distribution of SEP funding in Monday’s edition. (Source: U.S. DOE, June 24, 2009)
Contact: Cathy Zoi, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, (202) 586-9220, [email protected], www.energy.gov
