By Seth Grundhoeffer, Evansville Courier & Press staff writer
Evansville has been awarded $1.2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program.
The money is part of the $2.8 billion appropriated for energy efficiency under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The award brings to more than $10 million in federal economic stimulus money Evansville has been allocated in recent weeks.
Earlier awards have included $5 million that will be used for the expansion of the Pigeon Creek Greenway and for implementation of the Downtown traffic flow improvement project.
An additional $2 million grant is to be used to revitalize housing stock in some of the city's oldest neighborhoods and to provide assistance to city residents who are delinquent on rent and utility payments.
Audra Levy, spokeswoman for Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, said the city will have to submit a plan for use of the latest funds to the Department of Energy by June 25. Developing the plan likely will be the job of the Environmental Protection Agency in Evansville, she said.
Activities eligible for the energy grant include development of an energy efficiency and conservation strategy, residential and commercial building audits, energy efficient traffic signal and street lighting and finding renewable energy technologies for government buildings.
Levy said the funding will help Evansville further develop its sustainability policy through the implementation of programs and initiatives to improve environmental health in the community.
Cities are eligible for direct formula grants from the Department of Energy if they have a population of at least 35,000 or are one of the 10 highest populated cities in the state.