Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that another $755,148 in federal Recovery Act funding for energy efficiency block grants has been awarded to help six local agencies create jobs and save on utility and fuel bills. The six grants mark the second distribution of money from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program in North Carolina, for a total of nearly $1.5 million to a dozen local agencies. Additional grants are expected to be announced in the coming weeks as funding applications are reviewed and acted on.
“These recovery dollars will create new jobs while helping communities and taxpayers save on their energy bills,” said Gov. Perdue. “This program is another excellent example of how local, state and federal agencies are collaborating to create green jobs in North Carolina.”
The grants program is administered by the North Carolina Energy Office, part of the state’s Department of Commerce, to encourage energy conservation and economic investment in counties, municipalities, community colleges and public schools. A total of $7.2 million is available to local government agencies and $6.3 million to public schools and community colleges.
These six grants have been awarded to Henderson County, the Town of Dallas, Iredell-Statesville schools, Rowan-Salisbury schools, Roanoke Rapids schools and Richmond Community College as follows:
· Henderson County – $183,101 to work jointly with Hendersonville to replace inefficient lighting with energy-saving lighting and to put occupancy controls in restrooms. Total cost of the project is $208,701.
· Dallas – $7,798 to replace inefficient lighting with energy-saving lighting. Total cost of the project is $15,597.
· Iredell-Statesville Schools – $40,635 to replace current light fixtures with more energy efficient light fixtures. Total cost of the project is $71,347.
· Rowan-Salisbury Schools – $199,723 to install Direct Digital Control Systems on four schools to more easily and accurately control building heating and cooling systems, and replace inefficient lighting with energy-saving lighting. Total cost of the project is $222,023.
· Roanoke Rapids Schools – $167,195 to retrofit existing lighting fixtures to support energy-saving CFL and LED lighting fixtures. Total cost of the project is $192,164.
· Richmond Community College – $156,696 to install Direct Digital Control Systems in four buildings to more easily and accurately control building heating and cooling systems. Total cost of the project is $178,220.