By Josh Weinhold, Truth Staff
jweinhold@etruth.com
WASHINGTON -- More than $1 million in federal economic stimulus funding is headed to Elkhart County for energy efficiency initiatives, officials said Thursday.
The money comes from a block grant program included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the funding Thursday.
The city of Elkhart will get $557,300, while Elkhart County will receive $629,800. Indiana will receive a total of $42.3 million for state, county and city energy projects.
The level of funding received was based on a formula that accounts for an area's population and energy use. Mayor Dick Moore said the funding was more than welcome, especially because of the way it was awarded.
"These are the kinds of things we don't have to get in competition for or battle for," Moore said. "That makes it nice."
The funds will be used for energy audits and energy efficiency retrofits in residential and commercial buildings, the White House said. It will also pay for the formulation and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections and a new financial incentive program for energy efficiency efforts.
Other eligible activities include energy-conserving transportation programs, projects that reduce or capture greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, renewable energy installations on government buildings, and energy-efficient traffic signals and street lights.
City and county officials said they only learned of the funding Thursday, and were not certain how the money would be disbursed to local governments, or how individuals or businesses could apply for grant money.
Chu said the energy department will work with grant recipients to report the number of jobs created or retained, and other benefits from the spending, including energy saved or energy capacity created. The efforts will be made to ensure local accountability and efficient use of funds, Chu said.
The new grants are in addition to more than $200 million Indiana was awarded for weatherization and energy programs, part of a plan announced by President Barack Obama earlier this month.
More information about both programs is available at www.energy.gov/recovery.