Ohio Department of Development (DOD) Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel and Mark Shanahan, energy advisor to Governor Ted Strickland, have announced that the Ohio DOD’s Ohio Energy Office is accepting applications for $8.2 million in funding. The funding is available through Ohio’s energy efficiency and conservation block grant program for eligible state government entities and institutions of higher education.
This request for proposal is the final solicitation for the $25 million allocated to the State of Ohio through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and approved by the United States Department of Energy on September 28, 2009.
“Improving energy efficiency in Ohio’s higher education and public facilities creates jobs while boosting cost-effective and clean strategies to meet energy demand,” Patt-McDaniel said. “Stimulating Ohio’s economy by increasing the availability of new energy technologies puts renewable energy resources to use and Ohioans to work.”
The State of Ohio’s $25 million is part of a total allocation of $84 million in energy efficiency and conservation block grant funds available to Ohio. The U.S. Department of Energy divided the total allocation into two parts. The remaining $59 million is a direct allocation from the U.S. Department of Energy to Ohio’s 10 largest counties and 33 largest cities that were required to file an energy strategy proposal with the federal government in mid-August.
“Promoting energy conservation through these ARRA resources will benefit our environment and help grow Ohio’s economy. And, by focusing on our state’s higher education facilities and public buildings for this program, the State of Ohio is leading by example,” Shanahan said. “These grants will generate new energy capabilities across Ohio and set the stage for long-term growth and job creation in new energy technologies.”
The request for proposal for Ohio energy efficiency and conservation block grant program: state government and higher education, an $8.2 million program, seeks eligible state government agencies, departments, boards, and commissions, along with institutions of higher education, for projects that lower fossil fuel emissions, reduce energy usage and create jobs. Eligible activities include energy audits, building codes and inspections, energy efficiency retrofits, installation of distributed energy technologies, higher efficient lighting for traffic signals and street lights, implementing transportation programs that save energy, reduction and capture of methane or greenhouse gases, installation of renewable energy technologies on government buildings, and development of an energy efficiency and conservation strategy.
Minimum grant awards will be $250,000 with six to 33 awards selected through a competitive process. All eligible projects must be completed by July 20, 2012, provide direct economic impacts in Ohio, and demonstrate measureable energy savings or energy generation.