March12,2009
Kevin Hall (Warner) – (202) 224-2425 | Jessica Smith (Webb) - (202)228-5185
~Initiative will create jobs, promote long-term energy savings for consumers~
Virginia Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that $164 million in economic recovery funding has been released to Virginia to promote energy efficiency and weatherization programs. The White House and the Department of Energy released the funding Thursday morning, four weeks after Congress passed the economic recovery package.
Up to $94 million is being made available to Virginia localities, community and nonprofit organizations for initiatives that will make it easier for families to weatherize their homes, spurring a new home energy efficiency industry that could create thousands of jobs. An additional $70 million will be made available through the State Energy Program in the form of new Energy and Environment Block Grants, which will be used on programs designed to cut energy consumption and improve energy efficiency.
“Investing in efficient energy programs will alleviate high energy costs for all Virginians and invigorate our local economies through job creation,” said Senator Jim Webb.
“These grants will promote economic growth and help us create a lot of jobs at the local level,” Senator Warner said. “These targeted, one time investments also will create energy efficiencies that will save Virginia families and businesses significant money on their energy bills over the long term.”
The Weatherization Assistance Program will allow an average investment of up to $6,500 per home in energy efficiency upgrades and will be available for families making up to 200% of the federal poverty level – or about $44,000 a year for a family of four. The DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program allows low income families to reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient, reducing heating bills by an average of 32% and overall energy bills by hundreds of dollars per year.
The State Energy Program funding will be available for rebates to consumers for home energy audits or other energy saving improvements; development of renewable energy projects for clean electricity generation and alternative fuels; promotion of Energy Star products; efficiency upgrades for state and local government buildings; and other innovative state efforts to help save families money on their energy bills.
Additional details on these grant programs, including descriptions of eligible initiatives and application forms, are available at http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/wip/
