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More than $2.5 million will be heading to several local communities from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for local energy improvement projects, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) announced today. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, which will be administered by the Department of Energy, will provide funds to local communities for projects that reduce fossil fuel consumption, emissions, and overall energy use.

“Energy efficiency and conservation are two powerful tools that we have to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Rep. Tonko. “These investments will help our local leaders implement projects that can be deployed immediately and will save energy, reduce fuel consumption, and create jobs.”

These formula grants will support energy audits and energy efficiency improvements in residential and commercial buildings, and the development and implementation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements. Other activities eligible for the grant funds include transportation programs that conserve energy, projects to reduce and capture methane and other greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, renewable energy installations on government buildings, energy efficient traffic signals and street lights.

Here are the grant allocations for local towns & cities:

--Albany           $1,104,000
--Colonie             $661,900
--Schenectady    $601,300
--Troy                    $207,400
--Clifton Park       $149,200

The Department of Energy will require grant applicants to report the number of jobs created or retained, energy saved, renewable energy capacity installed, greenhouse gas emissions reduced, and funds leveraged.

For more information, visit the website: http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/

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