State, local communities to receive nearly $9.6 million
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today is welcoming $9,593,500 in federal stimulus funds to support a wide range of energy efficiency and conservation projects across Arizona.
Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, said the funding will make it possible for state and local governments to cut energy costs while also allowing them to shift to renewable sources of energy and create green jobs.
The funding will be distributed through the Department of Energy’s Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. Nationwide, 22 states will share more than $354 million in grants.
“The money will be used in Arizona to achieve a set of important goals,” said Giffords. “It will help our fast-growing state reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage the development, promotion and application of advanced building codes and green buildings statewide.”
Eighty percent of the money allocated to Arizona will be administered by the state’s Energy Office. The remainder will be distributed to cities and counties to start their own energy efficiency programs.
A competitive process will be used to select communities that receive money. There will be an emphasis on projects that demonstrate a high return on investment and a shared community project approach, create jobs and work in cooperation with community colleges and technical and trade schools.
In announcing the funding, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the money will allow states across the country to make major investments in energy solutions that will strengthen America’s economy and create jobs at the local level.
“It will also promote some of the cheapest, cleanest and most reliable energy technologies we have – energy efficiency and conservation – which can be deployed immediately,” he said.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by Congress earlier this year and signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2009. It provided immediate relief for American families and jump-started billions of dollars in projects to create jobs, improve infrastructure and strengthen local economies.