Federal stimulus funding is continuing to create Los Angeles work. Visit http://losangeles.jobing.com to learn more.
The California Energy Commission recently approved almost $12.9 million worth of projects funded by Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants. The funding will be used to improve residential energy use by upgrading efficiencies and increasing green workforce training.
Los Angeles County will receive $8 million, while San Diego County will get $3 million and the City of Fresno will be awarded $1.9 million to implement comprehensive single and multi-family energy retrofit programs. The programs will create or retain more than 2,000 jobs and provide aggressive training programs to expand the new energy workforce.
The government entities involved also will partner with several community colleges, local economic development programs, and building industry organizations to bring job training opportunities and clean jobs to the area.
"We are pleased that local governments are eager to use Recovery Act funds to help their residents save money on energy costs," Rick Rice, director of the California Recovery Task Force, said. "These innovative and comprehensive retrofit programs will allow California to continue its global leadership in energy efficiency efforts and provide a much-needed boost to our economy."
The programs are expected to provide energy upgrades to 10,800 single family homes and 2,000 multi-family buildings. The upgrades will result in annual energy savings of more than 20,000 megawatt hours of electricity, or enough power for 2,300 homes for a year, and the equivalent of more than 16,000 tons of carbon dioxide.
The California Energy Commission received $49.6 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for direct Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants for small cities and counties. More than $33.3 million was awarded to 277 jurisdictions for projects and programs that reduce total energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, create jobs and improve energy efficiency in building and other sectors.
