Reported by Staff

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu recently announced more than $162 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support energy-efficiency and renewable energy projects in Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico.

Under DOE’s State Energy Program, states and territories have proposed statewide plans that prioritize energy savings, create or retain jobs, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

These states and territories are receiving 40% of their total State Energy Program (SEP) funding authorized under the Recovery Act. They now will have received 50% of their total Recovery Act SEP funding. The initial 10% of total funding was available previously to states to support planning activities; the remaining 50% of funds will be released once states meet reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones required by the Recovery Act.

Activities eligible for SEP funding include energy audits, building retrofits, education and training efforts, transportation programs to increase the use of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles, and new financing mechanisms to promote energy-efficiency and renewable energy investments.

Colorado will use its Recovery Act SEP funds for several projects designed to expand renewable energy and energy-efficiency measures across the state. The Governor’s Energy Office will provide a suite of products aimed at removing financial barriers to rapid deployment of renewable energy and energy-efficiency initiatives, including offering access to short-term and intermediate low-cost capital to projects in the commercial, residential, and industrial sectors.

An Energy Efficiency for Existing Buildings Program will help state agencies (including public schools) reduce their energy use and carbon emissions. Using Recovery Act funds, Colorado also will substantially expand its Renewable Energy Rebates and Grants Program across the residential, commercial, and industrial/utility sectors. Furthermore, the office will promote greater energy efficiency in new and existing homes with programs such as a “whole house tune-up” that bundles efficiency incentives for homes.