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Klobuchar Announces Minnesota to Receive more than $21 Million for Energy Efficiency Projects

Klobuchar says funds will create jobs and bring down energy costs

June 24, 2009

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today that Minnesota will receive more than $21 million in funding for energy efficiency projects as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  These projects will create jobs while making residential and commercial buildings more energy efficient and promoting energy-saving technologies.

“The clean energy economy holds enormous potential for Minnesota,” said Klobuchar.  “By investing in energy efficiency projects we can create jobs and, at a time when millions of families are struggling to make ends meet, these projects will help cut energy costs for families.”

According to the Department of Energy, the funds will be used to improve energy efficiency in residential, commercial and government buildings.   Grants will be awarded to small, medium, and large businesses to help provide for the design, financing and installation of various energy efficiency improvements and retrofits.  Grants will also be administered to utilities to develop programs to promote energy efficiency with customers, such as low-interest loans and grants.

The funding comes from the State Energy Program (SEP), a component of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  Activities eligible under the program 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. 

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