The Federal Government announced more than $80 million in federal dollars will be distributed to Ohio’s Energy Office and individual counties and cities to fund energy efficiency projects. The money can be spent on a variety of projects including the following:
- Developing an energy efficiency and conservation strategy
- Technical consultant services
- Residential and commercial building energy audits
- Financial incentive programs
- Energy efficiency retrofits
- Development and implementation of transportation programs
- Building code modifications and inspections
- Energy distribution projects
- Material conservation programs
- Methane gas reduction and capture programs
- Energy efficient traffic signal and streetlight replacement
- Renewable energy initiatives for government buildings
- Any other “appropriate activity”
*Source: Ohio Department of Development at: http://www.development.ohio.gov/recovery/ EnergyEfficiencyConservationBlockGrants. htm
Of the $84 million, approximately $59 million will go directly to Ohio political subdivisions. Another $25 million is allocated to the state, 60 percent of which must be spent as sub grants to local communities. Finally, the program includes a nationwide competitive component totaling approximately $400 million.
Many recipients of the $59 million local portion have been announced, although the official deadline to submit applications is June 25, 2009. Some of the communities receiving large energy efficiency grants include: Columbus, at almost $7.5 million; Toledo, who received more than $3 million; Cincinnati and Cleveland at $3.5 and $4.5 million, respectively; and Akron with $3 million. Both urban and suburban counties also received money, including Butler, Clermont, Lake and Warren counties. See the back page for the complete listing of local government recipients.
