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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Pete Visclosky today announced that Northwest Indiana will receive $5,305,900 in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy that were authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grants will support projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency.
“Conservation is one of the easiest, most effective tools we have to reduce energy consumption and harmful emissions,” said Visclosky. “These grants will not only help Northwest Indiana play its role in solving the energy crisis, but create jobs and lay the foundation for a new green economy.”
The grants will support energy audits and energy efficiency retrofits in residential and commercial buildings, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements. Other eligible activities 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, deployment of Combined Heat and Power and district heating and cooling systems, and more. To ensure accountability, the Department of Energy will provide guidance and require grant recipients to report on the number of jobs created or retained, energy saved, renewable energy capacity installed, greenhouse gas emissions reduced, and funds leveraged.
Funding is based on a formula that accounts for population and energy use. The following communities in Northwest Indiana will receive funding: Lake County will receive $2,979,700; Gary will receive $935,200; Hammond will receive $728,100; Porter County will receive $511,800; and Portage will receive $151,100. Additionally, the Indiana State Energy Office will receive $14,052,400. |
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