The regional organization said that it will partner with nearly a dozen communities of varying sizes and characteristics, each of which will use a different approach to increase the energy efficiency of small and large residential, commercial and public buildings.
This diversity will allow SEEA to test and evaluate a variety of models in both smaller, more rural and larger, more metropolitan areas and make adjustments as needed. Another key aspect of the program, which will use a combined formula allocation and a pay-for-performance strategy to fund specific projects, will be the availability of affordable, accessible financing programs, SEEA said.
The Southeast Community Retrofit Ramp-up Consortium will partner with cities in eight southeastern states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia – and with the US Virgin Islands to increase the effectiveness of building retrofits across the region.
SEEA’s community partners include Huntsville, Alabama, Celebration, Florida.; Jacksonville, Florida.; Atlanta, Georgia.; Decatur, Georgia.; New Orleans, Los Angeles; Carrboro, North Carolina; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina; Nashville, Tennessee, Woodbury, Tennessee; Albemarle County, Virginia.; Charlottesville, Virgina.; and Hampton Roads Planning District, Virginia.
SEEA’s community partners have been planning and organizing for this opportunity since February 2009, when SEEA challenged cities to make commitments to energy efficiency programming and infrastructure with a $500,000 competitive solicitation and award.
Fifteen communities from six states tendered applications, based on hundreds of hours of partnership-building, meetings, planning, research and negotiations with utilities and city councils.
Ben Taube, executive director of SEEA, said: “This large infusion of funding from DOE into the Southeast provides an unprecedented opportunity to promote energy efficiency and innovation while also creating jobs in this tough economy.
”SEEA is looking forward to working with our various community partners across the region as we go forward and transform the market.”
