METRO AWARDED $250K GRANT FROM DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal grant to fund energy manager, plan to make city eligible for additional $6M
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 27, 2009) -
Mayor Karl Dean announced today that the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County has been awarded $250,000 from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program administered by the U.S. Department of Energy.
The grant will fund the first year salary for a full-time energy manager in Metro’s Department of General Services and consultants to develop an energy conservation strategy for Metro. With a completed energy conservation plan, Metro will be eligible to apply for an additional $6 million from the EECBG Program to implement the plan, which will incorporate several recommendations from the Mayor’s Green Ribbon Committee on Environmental Sustainability.
“Sustainable practices tend to save money in the long run, but the initial investments, especially in energy efficiency of buildings and operations, can be a barrier,” Dean said. “The federal government has recognized this and has made significant funds available to entities, like Metro, that want to reduce energy use and emissions. This grant will allow us to map a course to not only fulfill a number of Green Ribbon recommendations, but to meet our end goal of becoming a leading city in sustainable practices.”
Metro has contracted with Gobbell Hays Partners Inc. to write the energy conservation strategy, which must include a number of DOE reporting requirements, such as the number of jobs created, energy savings and reinvestment of saved dollars. Gobbell Hays is partnering with Johnson Control on the project. The plan must be completed and submitted to the Department of Energy within 120 days.
The energy manager will be responsible for implementing Metro’s energy management program, including initiating, coordinating and monitoring energy conservation efforts in Metro’s various divisions and departments.
Over $2.7 billion was made available in the EECBG Program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment of 2009. According to its Web site, the Department of Energy has awarded 206 grants through the program to date, totaling nearly $111 million.
For media inquiries contact:
Janel Lacy
(615) 862-6020
janel.lacy@nashville.gov