Governor Rell: Small Cities, Towns to Share $9.5 Million

In Stimulus Grants for Energy Efficiency Projects

(View list of grants to towns.)

Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that the state will distribute nearly $9 million in federal stimulus funds to 143 municipalities for energy efficiency projects under a block grant plan the Rell Administration is submitting to the Legislature for review.

The Governor said the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) are in addition to nearly $15 million in stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) that the federal government directly awarded to 26 of the state’s largest municipalities last month.

“From our biggest city to our smallest town, every municipality in Connecticut will receive resources to help make their communities more energy efficient. These block grants will help them move forward with innovative projects that will create green collar jobs and ultimately put money back into the local economies,” Governor Rell said.

Under the Governor’s EECBG plan, every town is eligible for at least $25,000 plus an amount determined by population. Of the $9.5 million, the state will distribute 90 percent of that as block grants and provide the remaining 10 percent as a “bonus pool” for those towns that choose to participate in regional energy efficiency and conservation projects. The 143 towns will receive letters notifying them of the block grants beginning next week. (List of towns and grants is attached.)

The funding will support a variety of projects, including energy audits, retrofits, transportation programs that conserve energy, greenhouse gas reduction, development of energy efficient building codes and geothermal building systems.  Towns will be required to apply for the funds, outlining the projects they wish to undertake, and must spend or fully commit the funds within two years of the grant award.

The Governor said that municipalities are encouraged to use the money within the framework of the state’s energy policy, established under the 2008 Global Warming law (Public Act 08-98) and Governor Rell’s Connecticut Energy Vision. Under this framework the state has established energy efficiency and conservation goals that include:

·        20 percent reduction in fossil fuel consumption by 2020

·        20 percent reduction in electric-peak grid consumption by 2020

·        Commercial transportation fuels to include mixture of 20 percent alternative fuels by 2020

·        Residential and commercial heating oil to include mixture of 20 percent alternative fuels by 2020

·        10 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 1990 levels

·        80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 compared to 2001 levels

“Connecticut has led the way in green technology and programs that foster energy conservation and renewable fuels. We can take pride in our progress and our vision,” Governor Rell said. “Collectively, we can take major strides in reducing our dependence on fossil fuel and leaving a cleaner, healthier environment.”

According to state statute, the EECBG plan must go before the Legislature’s Appropriations and Energy committees for a public hearing. The state must submit the block grant proposal to the U.S. Department of Energy by May 26.

For more information on the energy grants and the AARA in Connecticut go to:

www.ct.gov and click on the CT Recovery link.

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