COMPTROLLER STATE OF TEXAS
Grant: $45,638,100 - Department of Energy - Sep. 14, 2009
25% voted satisfied - 75% voted not satisfied - 4 vote(s) cast
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Award Description: The EECBG program provides funds to units of local and state government, Indian tribes, and territories to develop and implement projects to improve energy efficiency, and reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions in their communities. This program is administered by the Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs (WIP) which is part of U.S. Department of Energy’s DOE EERE office. While this program was authorized in Title V, Subtitle E of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) and signed into Public Law (PL 110-140) on December 19, 2007, it is being funded for the first time through ARRA. EECBG is modeled after the Community Development Block Grant program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It is intended to assist U.S. cities, counties, states, territories, and Indian tribes to develop, promote, implement, and manage energy efficiency and conservation projects and programs designed to: • Reduce fossil fuel emissions; • Reduce the total energy use of the eligible entities; • Improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building, and other appropriate sectors; and • Create and retain jobs. DOE provided allocations directly to large cities (above 35,000) and counties (above 200,000) and provided allocations to state energy offices such as the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to administer to smaller cities and counties not receiving funding directly from DOE. SECO plans to redistribute funding directly to small cities and counties in Texas not receiving a direct allocation from DOE based on population. Activities eligible for use of SECO funds include: building energy audits and retrofits, installation of distributed energy technologies including combined heat and power and district heating and cooling systems, installation of energy-efficient traffic signals and street lighting and installation of renewable energy technologies on government buildings. Measurables for this program include jobs created/retained, energy saved, renewable energy generated, green house gas emissions reduced and energy cost savings.
Project Description: The State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) will distribute block grants to cities (populations under 35,000 – 1,127 total) and counties (populations under 200,000 – 244 total), based on 2007 census estimates. An outreach campaign was initiated utilizing state county, municipal, and regional associations. Pre-notification letters were sent to subrecipients to prepare them for their upcoming awards. On 9/22/09, official notification packets were mailed to mayors and judges outlining the process they must follow to receive funding. Eligible projects include: government building energy audits/retrofits; small on-site systems that provide electricity, heating or cooling to a public building; installing energy efficient traffic signal lights and outdoor lighting; installing renewable energy equipment such as solar, wind, water or geothermal systems to generate electricity at a government building. Subrecipients have 45 days to initially accept its allocated money and continue with the application process. If a subrecipient does not accept its grant, funding will be redistributed to other local governments. Activities for this quarter include: SEP administration team hired/trained on ARRA requirements; SECO stimulus website developed which includes an EECBG section with technical resources (www.secostimulus.org); grant/contract management system (GCMS) for ARRA funds in early stages of development; reporting for OMB (ARRA 1512) and DOE implemented; notification packets prepared; staff met with numerous organizations and individuals regarding EECBG funding and spoke at numerous events throughout the state on stimulus including EECBG.
Jobs Summary: Administrative positions created to support EECBG for life of award include Program Manager, Grant Specialists, Program Coordinator, and Executive Assistant. No expenses or FTEs to report this period. (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Sep. 14, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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