Nevada Approved For $13,885,600 For Energy Projects

July 28, 2009

Carson City - Governor Jim Gibbons announced that Nevada has been approved by the U.S. Department of Energy to receive $13,885,600 of $34,714,000 in federal stimulus funds to benefit Nevadans as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This is 40 percent of Nevada’s total State Energy Program (SEP) funding authorized under the Recovery Act. The first 10 percent of total funding was given to the Governor’s State Energy Office to support new staffing and program planning activities. The remaining 50 percent of the funds will be released in two phases once required reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones are met. This money will be used to fund Nevada’s State Energy Plan, which was created by Governor Gibbons’ Energy Office, and has been approved by the United States Department of Energy.

“This infusion of money will help Nevada invest in our energy future’” Gibbons said, “Virtually every segment of Nevada’s population will benefit by putting people back to work and funding both short-term and long-term investments in Nevada’s energy future, especially renewable energy and energy efficiency/energy conservation projects and programs.”

These stimulus funds support the national State Energy Program. Total funding for this energy efficiency, renewable energy and alternative transportation program nationwide is $3.1 billion.

“This funding will provide an important boost for state economies, help put Americans back to work, and move us toward energy independence,” said U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “It reflects our commitment to support innovative state and local strategies to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy while insisting that taxpayer dollars be spent responsibly.”

Around Nevada, these funds will be used for a variety of projects and purposes, including implementing energy efficiency measures and renewable energy projects in schools, retro-fitting public buildings to save energy, installing energy efficient traffic signals, and providing funds for a revolving loan program and grants for renewable energy and energy efficiency/energy conservation projects. For more information on Nevada’s State Energy Program, please visit http://energy.state.nv.us/recovery/default.htm.