HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, MASSACHUSETTS DEPT OF
Grant: $122,077,457 - Department of Energy - Apr. 1, 2009
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Award Description: Weatherization Assistance Program for Low-Income Persons (WAP). This program increases the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, reduces their total residential expenditures, and improves their health and safety, especially low-income persons who are particularly vulnerable such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, families with children, high residential energy users, and households with high energy burdens. It is accomplished by providing cost-effective, full-scale home energy conservation services. Typical work includes air sealing, attic and/or sidewall insulation, weather-stripping, and minor repairs associated with the weatherization work. Program services result in a safer, more energy efficient and comfortable home which is a permanent improvement in the lives of the occupants.
Project Description: The US Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program For Low-Income Persons (WAP) provides energy efficiency upgrades to the homes of low-income households. ARRA will enable Massachusetts to weatherize 17,000 additional homes. Each will receive an in-depth energy audit and customized weatherization services which may include air sealing, dense-pack side wall and attic insulation, health and safety improvements, minor repairs and window replacements. This quarter, the State (Prime Recipient) provided guidance, training and technical assistance to the 12 Subrecipients that are gearing up to operate ARRA WAP and also trained and certified the Subrecipients' 35 new energy auditors. Since State WAP staff is budgeted through 3/31/10 under FY09 DOE WAP, not ARRA WAP, the State's ARRA WAP Job Hours will not appear in ARRA reports until after 4/1/10. Massachusetts' ARRA WAP grant was received in 10/09 which was past this report's cutoff and does not appear in 'ARRA Funds Received/Invoiced.' In order to speed Weatherization Stimulus funding across Massachusetts, the State 'front-loaded' a 17% advance to the Subrecipients of $15.6 million. In anticipation of receiving ARRA funding, Subrecipients hired 35 Energy Auditors and 25 support staff to assist with client outreach, record keeping and reporting and paid for that with regular FY2009 DOE WAP funding. Subrecipients also put under contract 15 additional private-sector weatherization contractors employing 60 crew workers. Subrecipient and vendor hours in this report are low because they have been working primarily on FY09 DOE WAP. From 4/1 when FY09 DOE WAP began through 9/30, Subrecipients completed 95% of that program's 2 year production goal. ARRA Weatherization of homes began 9/1 and ARRA job hours and expenditures will be significantly greater in the next report.
Jobs Summary: The ARRA Weatherization program will create between 250 - 300 new direct hires within the Commonwealth's Weatherization subgrantee agencies and private-sector weatherization contractors. The 12 non-profit and housing agencies that run the program have already recruited and put under contract 15 additional weatherization contractors employing 60 crew workers and also hired an additional 35 subgrantee energy auditors and 25 support staff to assist with client outreach, marketing, recordkeeping and reporting. It is anticipated that an additional 50 private-sector weatherization contractors (with approximately 200 weatherization technicians) will be recruited and trained to eventually contract with weatherization agencies to deliver energy efficiency services. In addition to the above, approximately 100 new jobs will be created within a funding set-aside for Special Projects directed to weatherize State Aided Public Housing and Expiring Use/ Preservation properties. As part of its support for workforce development, up to $1,000,000 in ARRA Weatherization funding is being committed to the new Massachusetts Clean Energy Center in support the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency and Building Science Training Initiative which is intended to 'develop, maintain, and deliver workforce & career training for energy efficiency and building science in Massachusetts.' The initiative has leveraged other funding through the Massachusetts Green Jobs Act of 2008 and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. (Total jobs reported: 8)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Apr. 1, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
Funds from this award have been disbursed to sub-grantees. Click here to see a list of sub-grantees.
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