$17.4 Million in Energy Efficiency Grants Awarded to 125 Michigan Communities

DELEG's Bureau of Energy Systems (BES) awarded the EECBG grants to projects that will create and retain jobs, save energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

BES is administering these grants through two separate programs:

• Multi-purpose competitive grants for smaller communities will support energy efficiency measures such as replacing high-energy systems in municipal buildings and street lighting, creating or expanding community recycling programs, and installing small-scale renewable energy generating systems. DELEG encouraged communities to decide how best to address energy efficiency and conservation opportunities, and awarded projects that will help achieve the Recovery Act's objectives to create and retain jobs, save energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• Light Emitting Diode/Solid State Lighting (LED/SSL) competitive grants will fund demonstrations of LED/SSL technology in various high-demand applications such as exterior parking, street and traffic lighting. The awards are designed to demonstrate market demand and attract LED/SSL manufacturing to the state. Grants will fund 90 percent of the costs for equipment.  Recipients have committed to cover 10 percent of the equipment costs, 100 percent of the labor and installation costs, and to help educate the public on the technology through signage, media or a community event after the LED project has been installed.

State EECBG grant awards generally range from $50,000 to $140,000 for single cities, townships, or villages and up to $650,000 for single counties and multi-jurisdictional recipients.  BES requires award winners to collect, track, and report data on energy savings, costs savings, job creation and/or retention, and emissions reductions. 

Agency: Energy, Labor & Economic Growth