Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that more than $860,700 in federal Recovery Act funding for energy efficiency block grants will help six local agencies create jobs and save on utility and fuel bills. The six grants mark the first distribution of money from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program in North Carolina. Additional grants are expected to be announced in the coming weeks as funding applications are reviewed and acted upon.
“Once again, North Carolina will use recovery funds to create and sustain jobs and to help our communities be more energy efficient, “said Gov. Perdue.
The grants program is administered by the North Carolina Energy Office to encourage energy conservation and economic investment in counties, municipalities, community colleges and public schools. A total of $7.2 million is available to local government agencies and $6.3 million to public schools and community colleges.
The first six grants have been awarded to Buncombe County schools, Vance-Granville Community College, Bergaw, Elkin, Morganton and Valdese as follows:
Buncombe County Schools -- $200,000 to continue a lighting retrofit program by replacing 17,720 lighting fixtures with high-efficiency fixtures in 11 school buildings. Total cost of the project is $400,649.
Burgaw -- $11,246 to replace inefficient lighting systems in the town hall, maintenance garage, and waste water treatment plant with energy efficient equipment. Total cost of the project is $14,795.
Elkin -- $200,000 to reuse a former super market built in 1985, and convert it into a workforce training center for a branch of Surry Community College. The project will retrofit the building, using energy-saving heating and air conditioning equipment, an energy management system, and upgrade the roof and insulation. Total cost of the project is $327,295.
Morganton -- $118,622 for five projects: Install updated heating and air conditioning controls in several buildings to provide greater efficiency; upgrade the heating and cooling management system in Morganton’s Municipal Auditorium; install occupancy sensors in bathrooms and offices in multiple buildings; retrofit for more efficient lighting in several locations; and insulate Community House. Total cost of the project is $130,622.
Valdese -- $200,000 to replace one pump and one variable frequency drive in Lake Rhodhiss Wastewater Treatment Facility’s influent pump station and replace three fixed mechanical aerators with a smaller, more efficient aeration system. Total cost of the project is $219,700.
Vance-Granville Community College -- $130,836 for energy-efficient lighting upgrades at four buildings. Two of the buildings are on the main campus in Vance County, a third is on the Granville County campus and the fourth is at the Warren County campus. The community college will complete the upgrade to energy efficient light fixtures with more energy efficient fixtures. Total cost of the project is $130,836.