Obama Administration Awards Full Funding for Hawaii's State Energy Program

Additional $12 million will help reduce energy use and carbon pollution, improve energy efficiency, and create green jobs

October 13, 2009 -- (The Following Was Released By The Department Of Energy):

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WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu today announced that Hawaii has received all of the State Energy Program funding allocated to the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Department of Energy delivered an additional $12 million to the state, which has now received a total of $25 million through the State Energy Program to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects across the state, while creating jobs and reducing carbon pollution.

"States are the engines of our economy and the laboratories of innovation," said Secretary Chu. "This funding will allow states to put in place innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that will create jobs in communities across the country while reducing carbon pollution and helping to shift how America uses energy."

The Department of Energy had previously awarded the first 50 percent of Hawaii's State Energy Program (SEP) funding. The remaining 50 percent announced today was delivered to the state after aggressive oversight, reporting, and accountability measures were put in place.

Hawaii will use its Recovery Act funding for the State Energy Program to improve energy efficiency and expand the deployment of renewable energy technologies, which will help advance mutual state and national goals for creating and maintaining jobs, reducing oil dependence, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Hawaii's energy efficiency strategy will directly fund high performance buildings, government and residential building retrofits, and energy efficiency measures in the state's hospitality industry. The program will also provide technical assistance and training to building owners, developers, design professionals, and county building code officials to ensure that new and renovated buildings are designed and built with high efficiency measures. Hawaii will target bringing buildings to ENERGY STAR and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.

The Recovery Act appropriated $3.1 billion to the State Energy Program to help promote energy efficiency and clean energy deployment, as well as to support local economic recovery. States use these grants at the state and local level to create green jobs and address state energy priorities. Activities eligible for State Energy Program funding include energy audits, building retrofits, education and training efforts, transportation programs to increase the use of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles, and new financing mechanisms to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy investments.

Transparency and accountability are important priorities for SEP and all Recovery Act projects. Throughout the program's implementation, DOE will provide strong oversight at the local, state, and national level, while emphasizing with states the need to quickly award funds to help create new jobs and stimulate local economies.

Source: Senator Daniel Akaka