Senator Murray Announces over $58 Million for Energy Efficiency Improvements Across Washington State
Press Release
Senator Murray Announces over $58 Million for Energy Efficiency Improvements Across Washington State
Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Washington state will receive over $58 million to begin energy efficiency and conservation improvement projects throughout the state as part of the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. As a senior member of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Murray worked to ensure that job-creating investments in Washington's energy systems were a key component of the Recovery Act. Senator Murray voted to pass the Recovery Act on February 13th. The bill was signed into law by President Obama on February 17th.
"The jobs this funding creates in construction and energy development will be a much needed boost to local economies," said Senator Murray. "These grants will help our communities implement energy efficiency and conservation strategies, and will create jobs improving, repairing, and updating our buildings and energy systems."
The funding announced for Washington state is part of $3.2 billion included in the Recovery Act for energy efficiency and conservation projects from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) program. The EECBG program assists the initiation of strategies to reduce fossil fuel emission, reduce total energy use, and to improve overall energy efficiency in transportation, building and other appropriate sectors.
The following activities are examples of projects that qualify for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants:
* Developing programs to conserve energy used in transportation, such as the development of a transportation infrastructure that includes bike lanes, pedestrian walkways, and synchronized traffic lights
* Conducting residential and commercial building energy audits
* Installing renewable energy technology such as solar and wind energy on or in government buildings
* Installing light emitting diodes (LEDs)
* Establishing loan, rebate or other financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements
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