-$175 Million for New York Communities in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants -

 

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. John Hall (D-NY19) today announced millions of federal recovery dollars to sustain Hudson Valley jobs and reduce energy costs by improving the energy efficiency of local homes, businesses and government buildings. New York's state, county and city governments will receive over $175 million of the nearly $3.2 billion in new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants administered by the Department of Energy. Funding for these efficiency grants was provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which Hall helped pass last month.

 

"We can't improve our economic future if we don’t invest in our energy future, as well," Hall said. "These grants will put Hudson Valley residents to work ensuring that local families, businesses and taxpayers use less and save more on energy."

 

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program will provide grants to New York State, cities throughout the Hudson Valley and also Dutchess, Westchester, Orange and Rockland Counties to finance local energy audits and energy efficiency improvements in homes and commercial buildings. Grants will also be used to fund energy efficiency programs such as transportation initiatives that conserve energy, projects to control the emission greenhouse gases from landfills and renewable energy installations on government buildings.

 

Specific funding levels for New York State and the Hudson Valley are:

 

• New York State (State Energy Office) - $ 29,760,600
• Dutchess County - $2,328,800
• Westchester County - $4,508,600
• Orange County - $3,516,700
• Rockland County - $749,300
• Yorktown - $158,100

 

This grant program is also designed to maximize its economic and environmental impact. Grant applicants will be evaluated on a formula of how effectively they can improve energy efficiency and sustain employment. Additionally, funding recipients will be required to report on the number of jobs created and the amount of energy that is conserved as a result.

 

"Creating local jobs while saving people money, reducing our dependence on foreign sources of energy and protecting our environment doesn't just make dollars, it makes sense," Hall added.

 

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