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March 26, 2009

Obama Administration Announces Additional $13,167,500 for Local Energy Efficiency Improvements in South Dakota
Block Grants to Support Jobs, Cut Energy Bills, and Increase Energy Independence

WASHINGTON - Vice President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Steven Chu 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.  This includes $13,167,500 for state, county and city efforts in South Dakota.  A detailed breakdown is below.

Today’s announcement builds on an investment of $48,196,296 in South Dakota weatherization and energy funding announced by the Administration on March 12th and detailed at energy.gov/recovery.

“These investments will save taxpayer dollars and create jobs in communities around the country,” said Vice President 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 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 Secretary 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.”

Funding for state, city, and county governments in the state includes:

SD South DakotaTotal Sum City, County, and SEO Allocations All $13,167,500
SD South Dakota State Energy Office $9,593,500
SD Aberdeen City $107,900
SD Brookings City $87,600
SD Huron City $50,000
SD Mitchell City $65,200
SD Pierre City $61,700
SD Rapid City City $649,900
SD Sioux Falls City $1,513,600
SD Vermillion City $50,000
SD Watertown City $90,800
SD Yankton City $61,600
SD Brown County $50,000
SD Lake County $ 50,000
SD Lawrence County $99,200
SD Lincoln County $110,700
SD Meade County $97,200
SD Minnehaha County $129,300
SD Pennington County $125,800
SD Shannon County $58,700
SD Todd County $50,000
SD Union County $64,800

In addition, today's announcement includes funding for the following Tribal governments in the state:

  Name Allocation
SD Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of the Cheyenne River Reservation, South Dakota $254,900
SD Crow Creek Sioux Tribe of the Crow Creek Reservation, South Dakota $94,600
SD Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe of South Dakota $72,200
SD Lower Brule Sioux Tribe of the Lower Brule Reservation, South Dakota $71,400
SD Ogalala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota $827,100
SD Rosebud Sioux Tribe of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota $353,500
SD Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation, South Dakota $134,000
SD Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota $124,100
SD/ND Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North & South Dakota $ 238,900

(NOTE: If a Tribal government spans more than one state, the number above reflects the allocation for the Tribal government as a whole.)

More information on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program is available on http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/wip/block_grants.cfm.

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