In July (maybe) and August, Pine Lake and other small cities will be able to submit proposals to the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) for energy - related programs under the ARRA stimulus package. Here's how it works: The federal goverment, in energy and several other areas, is giving the money to the states to give to local government or the private sector.  The US Dept. of Energy publishes guidelines for the states about how the money can be used.  The states have to respond with overall proposals giving an overview of their programs  - what the priorities are,how they will decide which proposals to fund, how they will  ensure that the money is spent for the intended purposes, etc.   I imagine the Dept. fo Energy and the state more or less negotiate what the program will be based on the federal guidelines and the state proposals.   Here are the programs (though you can also read about them on the GEFA ARRA page.

All programs are measured by number of jobs created as well as by energy efficiency gains.  The block grants are also measured by economic development impact.

1.  Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants   I think this is the most intersting one for us but I would like to have others look at the State Energy Program (#@) also.

Here's what Phil & I have put together so far:  EECBG list for Pine Lake

Total amount for small communities: $12,000,000, possibly more (they have to give us at least 60% of $21M)

"The purposes of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program are to reduce fossil fuel emissions, decrease total energy consumption, improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building, and other energy consuming sectors, spur economic growth, and create and/or retain jobs."

There seems to be a lot of over lap with the SEP.

GEFA has to submit its proposal to DOE by June 25.  Since it hasn't been submitted yet, we can't see it yet.  

GEFA fact sheet

DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement  This is what the Dept of Energy issues to states (who are responding to get money for smaller communities) and communities that are eligible to apply directly to the DOE, which we are not.  So ignore the June 25 guideline, which applies to GEFA, not us.

All cities w/populations under 35,000 can apply for this, so a city of 1,000 is going to have an uphill battle.  Again, maybe a partnership with Clarkston and Lithonia?

Eligible activities (from the fact sheet):

• Development of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy and technical consultant services to assist in the development of such a strategy.

• Residential and commercial building energy audits.
• Financial incentive programs and mechanisms for energy efficiency improvements such as energy savings performance contracting, on financing, and revolving loan funds.
• Grants to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for performing energy efficiency retrofits.
• Energy efficiency and conservation programs for buildings and facilities.
• Development and implementation of transportation programs to conserve energy.
• Building codes and inspections to promote building energy efficiency.
• Energy distribution technologies that significantly increase energy efficiency, including distributed resources, combined heat & power, and district heating and cooling system
• Material conservation programs including source reduction, recycling, and recycled content procurement programs that lead to increases in energy efficiency
• Reduction and capture of methane and greenhouse gases generated by landfills or similar waste-related sources
• Energy efficient traffic signals and street lighting
• Renewable energy technologies on government buildings
• Any other appropriate activity that meets the purposes of tghe program and is approved byh the DOE and / or GEFA

2.  State Energy Program (SEP):

Energy improvements to government, commercial, industrial, and residential sectors.  

This will be the first we as a city could apply for.  The state expects approval from the DOE no sooner than July 12, and then they will have to put the request for proposals out to local jurisdictions, which may only have 2-4 weeks to reply.

As far as I know, this is the first time local government like ours have ever been eligible for this program.  There's also even money for residential energy efficiency.

Summary of state program 

State application to DOE for funding  

Look at:

• Clean energy property grant program (p. 6), $4,495,000:  Covers up to 35% of the cost of renewable energy project installed in government, nonprofit and commercial buildings, but they have to be installed in the same year in which the funding is applied for.  Since no one will even be able to apply for the funding until later in July, at the earliest, this could be tough.
• Governor's Energy Challenge Supplement (p. 13 and also existing program) - the governor's office manages this, but it's interesting to see their approach
• Renewable energy grants, p. 21, $4,000,000:  For large, visible, shovel-ready programs where the applicant can supply a large match.  "Large prgrams" can include multiple small sites.
• Residential energy efficiency grants, p. 23, $2,000,000: For homeowners, installers, homebuilders, real estate professionals, retailers, etc.  Priority given to projects that will cover broad geographic areas.
• Greg Z. has suggested that maybe the Shell station could use solar panels, so also look at the commercial buildings part, p. 8 ( someone will have to figure out what's applicatble, the property grants program or the commercial energy efficiency grants) $2,000,000

3.  Where we can get help 

Atlanta Regional Commission   Someone would need to get us a contact name - ask Phil.

Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance

Local Government for Sustainability (ICLEI) - helps it's members, and I am sure we aren't one.

4.  Assistance directly to households

Nothing for us to do here, but be aware:

Weatherization, for households with income up to 200% of poverty level (about $40,000 for family of 4 according to GFA.  I looked up single-person  household and it's about $20,000).  Assessments of what needs to be done and assistance for doing it.  This is an ongoing program for low-income households.  It's not clear whether renters are eligible.  

Rebates for energy efficient appliances  No guidance yet from Washington on how this will work, who will be eligible, but it's supposed to happen.