Rep. Teague Announces $3.2 Million in Recovery Funds for Energy Efficiency Projects in Southern NM

Congressman Harry Teague (D, NM-02) announced in a statement released today that $3,205,200 is headed to southern New Mexico in energy efficiency and conservation projects. There is also nearly $9.6 million in block grant funding that will go to the state energy office. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will provide formula grants for projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency.

Click for a breakdown (pdf) of the energy efficiency funding for Southern New Mexico by governmental entity.

“These investments to help our communities conserve energy and become more energy efficient will create jobs and save taxpayers in southern New Mexico money,” said Congressman Harry Teague. “Local leaders in the small and rural communities I represent will be able to decide how they put these resources to work in a way that makes sense for our communities.”

The funding 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 activities eligible for use of 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, deployment of Combined Heat and Power and district heating and cooling systems.

To ensure accountability, the Department of Energy will provide guidance to 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.

More information on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program is available here.

By the way, check out Rep. Teague's Congressional website, which has been relaunched with a new design and expanded content: http://www.teague.house.gov/.