Governor Bill Haslam and Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau today awarded $2.1 million to fund energy efficiency projects for local governments and municipalities, utilities, and other private and public organizations across Tennessee. Please see the attached release for a list of grant recipients.
The Clean Tennessee Energy Grants were awarded to 19 recipients for projects designed to reduce air emissions, improve energy efficiency and create cost savings. The grant program provides financial assistance to state and local government agencies, utility districts, and quasi-government entities in Tennessee to purchase, install and construct energy projects.
“I am proud to see the commitment across the state at the local level to implement projects aimed at energy efficiency and reducing costs to taxpayers,” Governor Haslam said. “The projects announced today highlight these local efforts as we continue our work to make Tennessee the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
Eligible categories of the Clean Tennessee Energy Grant Program included:
· Cleaner Alternative Energy – biomass, geothermal, solar, wind
· Energy Conservation – lighting, HVAC improvements, improved fuel efficiency, insulation, idling minimization
· Air Quality Improvement – reduction in greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, oxides of nitrogen, hazardous air pollutants
“We are very pleased with the impressive roster of applicants seeking energy efficient ways to decrease emissions and reduce expenses at the local level,” said Commissioner Martineau. “We continue to look for ways to promote environmental awareness and energy efficiency within state government and within Tennessee’s communities.”
Funding for the projects comes from an April 2011 Clean Air Act settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Under the Consent Decree, Tennessee will receive $26.4 million over five years to fund clean air programs in the state (at approximately $5.25 million per year). As part of the grant program’s initial offering, a total of $5.3 million in Clean Energy Grants was awarded in 2012 to a variety of projects within state government, municipalities, utilities, state colleges and universities and communities throughout the state.
The maximum grant amount per project is $250,000 and requires match from the applicant. Grant recipients were chosen based on the careful consideration to meet the selection criteria and for those projects that expressed the greatest need. To learn more about the Clean Tennessee Energy Grant and future grants, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/energygrants/ or contact Kathy Glapa at 615 253-8780 or Kathy.Glapa@tn.gov.