Funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today welcomed a $182,700 federal grant to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy use in Sierra Vista.
“This grant demonstrates our nation’s commitment to developing a clean energy future,” said Giffords. “Every community in every state must be a part of this effort if we are to succeed in making renewable energy a greater part of our energy portfolio.”
The funds coming to Sierra Vista will be used for solar street lights, solar hot water heaters for two fire stations and the replacement of heating and cooling systems in the Oscar Yrun Community Center.
The funds are part of $3.2 billion in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants distributed through the U.S. Department of Energy. They were appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was passed by Congress earlier this year.
Activities eligible for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funding include energy audits and building retrofits in the residential and commercial sector, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements.
Approximately $2.7 billion of the grant program will be awarded to more than 2,300 cities, counties, states, and Indian tribes nationwide. More than $400 million will be delivered through competitive grants.
Giffords, a champion of solar energy in Congress, has long maintained that every sector of society must do more to boost the use of renewable energy. Last month she attended a ribbon-cutting for a landmark solar development at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.
It is estimated that by harnessing the power of the sun to supply energy for about 900 homes, the new D-M solar facility will offset 570 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over its lifetime.
Giffords recently introduced the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, legislation aimed at boosting federal research for the development of solar energy technology. It was approved by the House of Representatives on October 22 by a 3-to-1 margin.
In addition to earning broad bipartisan support, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act was praised in a Nov. 9 editorial that appeared in The Arizona Republic. The state’s largest newspaper said the bill “would provide much-needed focus and resources” for the national effort to make greater use renewable sources of energy.