City Receives Federal Energy Efficiency Grant
October 5
$1.7 million to be used for efficiency/conservation programs - The Tallahassee City Commission will review the awarding of a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy at the Commission's regular meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 7. If approved by the Commission, funds from the grant will be used to enhance the City's existing energy efficiency and conservation programs.
Staff from the City's Energy Services Department applied for the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant in June and was recently notified by the Department of Energy of the grant being awarded. The primary goal of the grant funding is to accelerate progress toward achieving the City's long-term Demand Side Management (DSM) initiative that seeks an overall decrease in energy usage by customers. Proposed uses of grant funds include:
- Enhancing the City's energy audit program, available at no charge to both residential and commercial customers;
- Implementing new financial incentives for energy efficiency, demand/energy reduction and renewable energy;
- Developing new innovative rate options supported by the City's emerging smart grid system; and
- Accelerating the adoption of clean and efficient transportation opportunities, highlighted by programs geared to electric-powered vehicles.
"This federal support, coupled with the City's extensive portfolio of energy efficiency programs and last week's announcement of natural gas prices lowering, is wonderful news for all City utility customers," said David Byrne, director of Energy Services. Natural gas is used to produce more than 95 percent of the City's electricity, and combined with an earlier electric rate decrease, customers will begin seeing lower electric utility rates this month. The rate reductions result in an overall 18 percent decrease over the last six months.
Energy Services staff will begin to implement the grant activities in the near future, which will not require additional staffing or other resources to administer. They also form a natural alliance with the City's existing Energy Smart Plus (e+) initiative, which encourages customers to save energy and thus money by taking energy efficient measures throughout the home.
Financial incentives for demand and energy reduction may include pilot initiatives such as rebates to commercial customers who reduce their energy demand and to residential customer for evaluation/repair of leaky HVAC ducts in their homes. Other incentives may be developed for builders who incorporate energy efficient green technologies when building new homes or renovating older ones.
Through the grant application process, the City listed short-term goals of reducing electric peak demand by up to two megawatts, reducing annual energy consumption by no less than 3,000 megawatt-hours, reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by no less than 1,400 tons and promoting local economic development strategies by creating or retaining up to 19 jobs.
City Commission meetings are aired live on WCOT, the City's government access channel (Comcast channel 13), and streamed live on the City's Talgov.com website. Wednesday's meeting begins at 4 p.m.
For more information on energy audit appointments, energy saving tips and other e+ programs, visit Talgov.com/YOU or call Your Own Utilities at 891-4YOU (4968).
Contact
David Byrne, Energy Services, 891-6898; or Bill Behenna, Department of Communications, 891-8533
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