Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that more than $330,000 in federal Recovery Act funds have been awarded to eight North Carolina “Main Street” communities to help with energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives. The grants are the first distribution of money from the North Carolina Energy Program for the state’s Main Street initiative.
“North Carolina continues to use recovery funds for job creation and energy efficiency,” said Gov. Perdue. “These grants will provide service jobs for local businesses and help local communities save money on utility bills.”
The Main Street initiative seeks to boost economic development in small towns, including those in rural areas, that have been designated by the N.C. Commerce Department’s Division of Community Assistance. A second round of grants is expected to be awarded during the first quarter of this year.
The North Carolina Energy Office, in partnership with the N.C. Main Street Center, awards grants to eligible local governments and/or nonprofit downtown revitalization organizations for projects totaling no more than $250,000. Grants are awarded to Main Street communities for energy audits and planning and policy work to support long-term sustainable changes for energy efficiency.
Local matching funds must be committed for implementation of grant awards on the basis of a minimum of one non-federal dollar for every one federal dollar from the N.C. State Energy Program Main Street Grant Fund.
Below are the “Main Street” projects approved for funding in the first round:
Albemarle -- $54,137 for retrofitting 124 existing street lights with LED fixtures on East & West Main Street corridors saving the city an estimated $25,169 in utility costs annually.
Davidson -- $5,300 to retrofit all overhead lighting in the Davidson Town Hall and in the Davidson Fire Station to energy efficient fluorescent fixtures and replacing the incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent mini spirals resulting in an average of 43 percent energy cost reduction.
Davidson -- $13,767 to partner with Urban Organic I, LLC, to achieve EPA Energy Star certification of the Business Center @ South Main Square by making energy efficiency improvements through the replacement of manual thermostats to electronic programmable thermostats and replacement of enthalpy controller with new electronic enthalpy controller resulting in a cost savings of $750.00 annually.
Edenton -- $30,500 for energy efficiency retrofits in the historic Town Hall to include insulation and new lighting for an energy cost savings of $4,520 annually.
Hendersonville -- $52,200 for energy efficiency upgrades in three Main Street businesses as well as a street-lighting retrofit. Upgrades include heating and air conditioning equipment retrofits, insulation, solar hot water installation, lighting retrofits and occupancy sensor controls. The changes will result in an overall 40 percent reduction in electricity use by the business owners. The street lighting retrofit includes the replacement of 32 light fixtures on Main Street with LED light fixtures for a savings to the town of $11,500.00 annually.
Morganton -- $101,995 for energy efficiency upgrades involving two condo-units and eight businesses belonging to five properties in the Main Street district. Properties are incorporating energy upgrades including insulation, heating and air conditioning units, hot water systems, lighting, appliances, windows, toilets, general weatherization, awnings, and roofs.
Newton -- $6,310 to purchase and install energy-efficient lamps on the main floor and basement level in the City Hall building resulting in a 35-40 percent reduction in lamp electricity use.
Spruce Pine -- $66,938 for the installation of a solar photovoltaic system to be located on the roof of a vacant service station in downtown Spruce Pine. The solar system will produce a 12.3 percent energy cost reduction in the first year of operation for Craftsmen Inc./The Calafate Group. The energy generated from the solar system will be used to partially offset the costs associated with operating drying kilns which are used in the manufacturing process to dry, sterilize, and convert large sections of tree bark into the company’s “Bark House” brand exterior shingles. Funding will also assist in energy efficiency upgrades of three kilns. In total, the project represents a 52.3 percent reduction in energy use by the manufacturer.