DORGAN SAYS INCREASED WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE WILL NEARLY DOUBLE FARGO AGENCY'S ABILITY TO HELP

Senator tours Fargo household taking part in the program

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

CONTACT: Justin Kitsch
or  Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551

(FARGO, N.D.) – U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced today he has increased funding for the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program dramatically, nearly doubling the number of low income households Fargo’s Southeastern North Dakota Community Action Agency (SENDCAA) can help weatherize.

Dorgan recently pushed to appropriate $250 million in emergency funding for this program in a continuing resolution in September. He is Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, the subcommittee which funds the program. Fargo-based SENDCAA has estimated that the increased funds will advance their assistance ability from 90 homes to 160.

The Senator took a tour of a participating home and made comments afterward. He emphasized the significance of the program while standing beside SENDCAA officials.

“This program is vitally important to the well-being of many North Dakotans,” Dorgan said. “The temperatures in our state can reach extremes at times throughout the year. This program gives low income people a chance to weatherize their residences, which helps dramatically lower heating and cooling bills in the long term. It also keeps them safe when the mercury hits extreme points.”

At the event, Dorgan mentioned that the Bush Administration threatened to cancel this program during the 2009 Fiscal Year budgeting process. As Chairman of the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Dorgan rejected that proposal and placed $201 million for the program in the pending FY 2009 appropriations bill.

Also at today’s event, the Senator encouraged families who make 150 percent above the poverty level or less to contact their regional community action agency if interested in the program.

In 2006, this program helped 1,627 North Dakota households weatherize against North Dakota’s extreme weather. They saved an average of 25 percent off heating and cooling bills.

Due to high energy prices, North Dakota’s Congressional delegation also pushed to direct a record $38.2 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to the state. Last year, North Dakota received $20.5 million.

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