NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

May 19, 2010
Vol. 40, No. 167

Contact:  Cara Lampton, Delaware Energy Office (302)735-3480; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, (302)739-9902.

DNREC offers grant workshop on June 8 for local governments on competitive sub-grants for energy-efficiency and conservation projects

Municipal governments throughout Delaware are encouraged to attend an informational workshop from 1 – 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 8 on competitive sub-grants available through the state’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, funded by the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Approximately $3.5 million in competitive sub-grant funds are available to local governments that have not already received a direct grant under the program from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The workshop will be held in the Cooperative Extension Conference Room at the University of Delaware’s Paradee Building, 69 Transportation Circle, Dover. To pre-register for the EECBG workshop, contact the Delaware Energy Office at 302-735-3480 by June 4.

“We encourage local governments to partner with the state to seize the opportunities for fuel efficiency and energy conservation for their communities,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara.

The EECBG program is designed to help local governments: improve energy efficiency; reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions; create or retain jobs in their communities; and stimulate the economy. 

DNREC’s Delaware Energy Office has released the Request for Proposals which identifies 47 municipal governments as eligible to receive grants under the program (Attachment A). Grant awards can range from $25,000 to $500,000 per local government.

The Request for Proposals can be found on DNREC’s website at http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/energy/information/Pages/EECBG_Program_Grants.aspx.

Municipal governments are encouraged to partner with other eligible local governments and non-profit organizations, including the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), to leverage community resources and develop projects and programs that can extend savings beyond the life of the grant.  Governments that partner with other eligible entities can obtain up to $1 million in grant funds under the program.

At the workshop municipal governments will learn how they can use the funds on cost-effective, energy efficient projects for their communities. Representatives from Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) will be available to provide information on leveraging grant funds through innovative financing tools, energy performance contracts and other potential partnerships with the SEU.

Competitive sub-grant proposals are due by July 9, 2010.  An energy audit must be completed as
an application requirement.

Delaware received funds for municipal governments through the EECBG Program, for three opportunities – competitive sub-grants, formula sub-grants and energy audit grants – as part of the $9.59 million in federal stimulus awarded to the state in September 2009 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. For more information on these funding opportunities, visit
http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/energy/information/Pages/EECBG_Program_Grants.aspx.

Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), created by Delaware legislation in 2007, is a unique non-profit organization offering a one-stop resource to help residents and businesses save money through clean energy and efficiency. For more information, visit www.energizedelaware.org.