Solano cities garner federal energy funds

Solano cities garner federal energy funds
By Reporter Staff
Posted: 03/27/2009

Vacaville, Fairfield and Vallejo soon will be receiving more than $2 million through the federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, according to Congressman George Miller, D- Solano.

The grants, part of the recently-approved American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, include:

* Vacaville, $849,000

* Fairfield, $984,500

* Vallejo, $1,051,200

The $3.2 billion national grant program also included energy efficiency funds for nearby cities of Woodland ($508,700); Davis ($591,000); Napa ($699,500); and Martinez ($150,000).

Funds were released Thursday morning.

"This is the latest shot in the arm for our communities struggling to climb out of the recession," Miller said in a press release. "Investing in energy efficiency will create jobs here at home while also helping to move America toward a more energy independent future."

Economic growth and energy efficiency, Miller said, go hand-in-hand.

The program, he stated, will help cities reduce energy use while creating jobs.

Nationwide, eligible projects range from development of energy efficient transportation systems to reduction and capture of methane and greenhouse gases and development of energy-efficient building codes and energy audits for residential and commercial buildings.