I am pleased to let you know that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R.1), better known as the stimulus bill, provides $3.2 billion for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program.  This program will provide formula grants to U.S. cities, counties, states, territories, and Native American tribes for projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency nationwide.

Funding for this program is based on a formula that accounts for population and energy use.  Cities and counties will receive nearly $1.9 billion under the EECBG program while states and territories will receive nearly $770 million.  States will receive and administer funds for those counties and cities that are not large enough to qualify for direct DOE funding.  More than $54 million will flow directly to tribal governments. 

The application due date for states is May 26, 2009; the due date for cities, counties, and Indian tribes is June 25, 2009.  To view more information about this federal funding opportunity, please visit the following link:
http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/

DOE’s efforts are designed not only to empower local communities to make strategic investments to meet the nation’s long-term clean energy and climate goals, but also to help jumpstart the economy and cut overall energy use nationwide.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is often described as a series of very large monetary figures.  However, specific funding opportunities offered by H.R.1, such as this opportunity through DOE, help meet the goals of this historic legislation: to create jobs, promote energy efficiency, and transform our economy for the new century.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator