Press Release: New Energy Grant Announced
GOVERNOR'S ENERGY OFFICE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2009
CONTACT:
Todd Hartman, 303,513-3639, todd.hartman@state.co.us
The Governor's Energy Office announced today it is soliciting applications for a $2 million grant program that marks the inaugural set of renewable energy and energy efficiency grants to be funded through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) in Colorado.
The GEO is accepting applications for the first round of New Energy Economic Development (NEED) grants. NEED grants provide funding for projects that improve energy efficiency and advance renewable energy for commercial, industrial and public projects while sustaining and creating jobs in the growing green energy sector.
"We're excited to begin directing Recovery Act dollars into innovative New Energy Economy projects," said GEO director Tom Plant. "This marks just the first of many Recovery Act-funded grant, rebate and loan packages to flow from GEO designed to create jobs while further advancing Colorado's leading role in the country's transition to clean, lower-carbon sources of energy."
The NEED grants are funded through the GEO's $50 million State Energy Program Recovery Act allocation from the Department of Energy. Following the initial $2 million NEED grant cycle, the GEO will solicit applications for two additional rounds of NEED grants, each with a pool of $1 million, before September 2010. Applications for this first round are due at 5 p.m. August 28. More information about the grants can be found at the partnership opportunities section on the GEO Web site. Grant recipients are expected to be selected in November.
The request for NEED grant applications marks the latest step in the GEO's work to push Recovery Act clean energy dollars into Colorado communities. The GEO has already begun allocating initial portions of the $79.5 million in Recovery Act dollars designated for income-qualified weatherization to partnering agencies across Colorado and is soliciting for additional weatherization services in some regions of the state. In addition, the GEO has issued a request for proposals to provide services for data management and Web services intended to help the public make smart energy choices by connecting them with resources and information.