Vice President Biden Announces Energy Efficiency ‘Retro-fit Rampup” Rewards
Environment Virginia
Richmond, VA – Today, Vice President Joe Biden and Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a new ‘Retrofit Ramp-Up’ program that will give 25 communities, including Charlottesville, VA grants for innovative retrofit projects. The projects will receive a combined $452 million and it is estimated they will create 30,000 jobs over the next few years, while saving consumers $100 million per year and leveraging $2.8 billion in other investment. Charlottesville’s LEAP program will receive a portion of the $20 million granted to the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance through the program. Environment Virginia applauded the Administration’s action as another major victory from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s $80 billion in clean energy investment.
Environment Virginia Advocate J.R. Tolbert released the following statement in response:
“We applaud Vice President Biden and Energy Secretary Chu for continuing their leadership to make America more energy efficient, which will reduce global warming pollution immediately, put Americans to work in clean energy jobs, and save families money in energy costs.
“America currently has the technology, the know-how and a workforce that is ready to retrofit our homes to make them more efficient, while dramatically reducing pollution. However, homeowners need incentives and financing mechanisms that will make it feasible to invest in making their homes more energy efficient and to reap the tremendous benefits for our economy and our environment.
“The ‘Retrofit Ramp-Up’ program will create 25 innovative projects across the country, including projects through Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance in Charlottesville, Virginia to lead the way in breaking down barriers to energy efficiency. We look forward to working with LEAP to implement this program and with the Obama administration to expand these projects to more cities throughout the commonwealth. Congress can follow the Vice President’s example by passing the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010, sponsored by Virginia Senator Mark Warner, which would provide the entire country with the means to reap the benefits of energy efficiency.”
The following governments and non-profit organizations have been selected for Retrofit Ramp-Up awards. These projects are planned to begin in fall 2010. Final award amounts are subject to negotiation:
Austin, Texas – $10 million
Boulder County, Colorado – $25 million
Camden, New Jersey – $5 million
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning – $25 million
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, Ohio – $17 million
Greensboro, North Carolina – $5 million
Indianapolis, Indiana – $10 million
Kansas City, Missouri – $20 million
Los Angeles County, California – $30 million
Lowell, Massachusetts – $5 million
State of Maine – $30 million
State of Maryland – $20 million
State of Michigan – $30 million
State of Missouri – $5 million
Omaha, Nebraska – $10 million
State of New Hampshire – $10 million
New York State Research and Development Authority – $40 million
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – $25 million
Phoenix, Arizona – $25 million
Portland, Oregon – $20 million
San Antonio, Texas – $10 million Seattle, Washington – $20 million
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance – $20 million
Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, Ohio – $15 million
Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation – $20 million
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Environment Virginia is a statewide, citizen funded environmental groups working for clean air, clean water, and open space.
