Green Bay to get energy grants

From an article by Larry Bivins in the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Green Bay will receive more than $1 million for energy-efficiency and conservation projects, President Barack Obama's administration announced Thursday.

The money is part of an additional $37.1 million the Department of Energy has allocated for Wisconsin under Obama's economic recovery package. In addition, Brown County will get $612,000.

Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt said the city has a plan to use the money, stemming from research started in 2006. Schmitt learned the ciy was receiving the money Thursday.

"We've been working with the federal government for funding for two years," Schmitt said. "We'll put this money to good use. We're ready to go. . . ."

Activities the money can support include energy audits and making residential and commercial buildings more energy efficient, improving building codes and inspections, creating financial incentive programs for energy-efficiency improvements.

It also can go for transportation programs that conserve energy, projects that reduce or capture greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, and projects that mate traffic signals and street lights more energy efficient.

Most of applicable projects are in the Sustainable Green Bay Report, said Derek Lord, Green Bay's deputy director of economic development. How the money is used will depend on the parameters set up by the federal government.

Lord said rebate and incentive programs to increase energy efficiency, educational campaigns, energy audits and loan programs are on the top of the list.