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Rep. Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam) said today that New York will receive $517,796,513 in grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for weatherization and and energy efficiency programs for low-income individuals, following an announcement by President Obama and the Department of Energy this morning detailing those funds.
 
According to the Department of Energy, New York will receive $394,686,513 in grants for weatherization and $123,110,000 in grants for energy efficiency programs. The first installment of the funding will be released in the next few days.
 
"These grants will provide a boost to the economy by creating jobs in New York, and will help low-income homeowners save money on energy bills," said Rep. Tonko. "They represent a smart investment in our economy, in energy efficiency and cleaning up our environment."
 
The Weatherization Assistance Program allows an average investment of up to $6,500 per home in energy efficiency upgrades, and is available to families who make up to 200% of the federal poverty level -- about $44,000 of income per year for a family of four.
 
The State Energy Program funding will be available for rebates to consumers for home energy audits or other energy saving improvements; development of renewable energy projects for clean electricity generation and alternative fuels; promotion of Energy Star products; efficiency upgrades for state and local government buildings; and other innovative state efforts to help save families money on their energy bills.
                                                                                      

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