State Representative Ron Travis announced Monday that the Bledsoe County Nursing Home is set to receive a $32,725 grant from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation as part of its Clean Tennessee Energy Grant Program.
The money will be used to upgrade and improve the facility’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. The project is expected to save $11,761 annually and reduce utility consumption by 130,686 kWh.
Officials said, "This improvement – as well as many other non-grant funded improvements that are planned – will help the county align with their goals to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent in all county-owned facilities."
“I am thankful to the Department of Environment and Conservation for approving this important funding,” said Rep. Travis. “This grant will enable our community to become more energy efficient, reduce overall energy costs, and put more money back in the pockets of Bledsoe County taxpayers.”
Funding for the project comes from an April 2011 Clean Air Act settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Under the agreement, Tennessee will receive $26.4 million over five years to fund clean air programs in the state. To date, TDEC has reimbursed roughly $6.1 million in funding to grantees for a variety of innovative projects to reduce environmental impacts and operating costs at sites of new construction and sites with aging infrastructure.
To learn more about the Clean Tennessee Energy Grant Program and future grants, visit www.tn.gov/environment/energygrants.
Ron Travis currently serves as vice-chairman of the House Insurance & Banking Committee as well as a member of the House Consumer & Human Resources Committee and Insurance & Banking Subcommittee. He lives in Dayton and represents District 31, which includes all of Rhea, Bledsoe, Sequatchie and a portion of Roane Counties. He can be reached by email at Rep.Ron.Travis@capitol.tn.gov or by calling 1-800-449-8366, ext. 11450.