US

Department of Energy releases $80 million in weatherisation funds

The US Department of Energy has released $80 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for weatherisation programmes in Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi, and Oregon.

The programmes aim to improve the energy efficiency of the homes of low-income families, reducing their heating bills.

“The Obama Administration is moving at an unprecedented pace to award these funds to states, so that weatherization agencies can move forward, hire new workers, and immediately begin helping homeowners make their homes more energy efficient,” said Energy Secretary Steve Chu.

Arizona will use the $22.8 million awarded in this funding round to weatherise over 6400 homes over the next three years. The state will work with local weatherisation agencies to provide services to low-income homes, particularly the elderly and disabled. A partnership with local utilities has also been set up to monitor energy bills before and after weatherisation.

Kansas is also using its $22.6 million to focus weatherisation efforts on over 5800 low-income homes, the elderly, disabled and families with children. Mississippi will focus its $19.8 million on single-parent families as well as the disabled and elderly, while Oregon is has similar plans for its allocation of $15.4 million.

All the states will receive further funds if the initiation implementation of their plans is successful.

For further information:
www.energy.gov/

11 June 2009

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