Congresswoman Hirono Announces Federal Funding For Kauai Habitat for Humanity
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i) today announced a $215,880 USDA Rural Development grant to help make Kauai Habitat for Humanity's (KHH) next set of new homes environmentally sustainable and affordable.
This grant is part of the federal High Energy Cost Grant Program that provides financial assistance for the improvement of energy generation, transmission, and distribution facilities serving eligible rural communities with home energy costs that are higher than 275 percent of the national average.
The costs of electricity on the Island of Kauai exceed $0.35 per kilowatt hour, which is around three times the national average. KHH identified enhanced weatherization of houses and the use of solar energy technology as cost-effective measures to make its new homes environmentally sustainable and affordable.
The grant would pay for the additional equipment, materials, and the expertise to add these features to up to 37 new homes. These homes will help replace those destroyed by hurricane Iniki.
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