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Obama administration targets $37 million more in stimulus for Wisconsin
Published March 26, 2009 - BizTimes Daily
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The Obama administration today announced plans to invest $3.2 billion in energy efficiency and conservation projects in U.S. cities, counties, states, territories, and Native American tribes, including $37.2 million for state, county and city efforts in Wisconsin.
Today’s announcement builds on a previous announcement of an investment of $197 million in Wisconsin weatherization and energy funding announced by the administration on March 12.
"These investments will save taxpayer dollars and create jobs in communities around the country," said Vice President Joe Biden. "Local leaders will have the flexibility in how they put these resources to work – but we will hold them accountable for making the investments quickly and wisely to spur the local economy and cut energy use.”
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, funded by President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will provide formula grants for projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency.
The funding will support energy audits and energy efficiency retrofits in residential and commercial buildings, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements.
Other activities eligible for use of grant funds include transportation programs that conserve energy, projects to reduce and capture methane and other greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, renewable energy installations on government buildings, energy efficient traffic signals and street lights, deployment of Combined Heat and Power and district heating and cooling systems, and others.
To ensure accountability, the Department of Energy will provide guidance to and require grant recipients to report on the number of jobs created or retained, energy saved, renewable energy capacity installed, greenhouse gas emissions reduced, and funds leveraged. Funding is based on a formula that accounts for population and energy use.
"The Block Grants are a major investment in energy solutions that will strengthen America’s economy and create jobs at the local level," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "The funding will be used for the cheapest, cleanest and most reliable energy technologies we have - energy efficiency and conservation - which can be deployed immediately. The grants also empower local communities to make strategic investments to meet the nation’s long term clean energy and climate goals."
The allocations include more than $5.8 million for the City of Milwaukee and $732,400 for Milwaukee County.
Fran McLaughlin, spokeswoman for Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, said the county executive's office was checking to see what the funds could be used for. Walker has said he will oppose the use of federal stimulus funds for projects that require a local funding match or will create new operating and maintenance expenses. The funds will likely be used for the county's Green Print energy efficiency and conservation program, McLaughlin and Milwaukee County Board spokesman Harold Mester said.
The Wisconsin fund allocations include:
Wisconsin State Energy Office, $11,743,000
Appleton City $689,800
Beloit City $157,500
Brookfield City $191,600
Eau Claire City $655,700
Fond du Lac City $187,500
Franklin City $142,800
Green Bay City $1,003,000
Greenfield City $145,800
Janesville City $618,500
Kenosha City $902,500
La Crosse City $542,100
Madison City $2,384,600
Milwaukee City $5,839,100
New Berlin City $166,400
Oshkosh City $634,100
Racine City $795,000
Sheboygan City $209,300
Waukesha City $657,400
Wausau City $183,900
Wauwatosa City $220,000
West Allis City $576,200
Brown County $612,000
Dane County $2,267,000
Marathon County $374,000
Milwaukee County $732,400
Outagamie County $492,300
Racine County $457,500
Walworth County $420,700
Washington County $524,400
Waukesha County $2,217,900
Winnebago County $413,700
In addition, today’s announcement includes funding for the following Tribal governments in the state:
Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of the Bad River Reservation $89,200
Forest County Potawatomi Community $53,900
Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin $392,200
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin $115,200
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of the Lac du Flambeau Reservation of Wisconsin $92,000
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin $131,900
Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin $324,700
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin $55,900
Sokaogon Chippewa Community, Wisconsin $34,300
St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin $42,900
Stockbridge Munsee Community $50,500
More information on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program is available on http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/wip/block_grants.cfm.
