WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall and Representative Martin Heinrich (NM -1) today announced that the city of Albuquerque will receive $5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to create jobs that improve energy efficiency, and reduce energy usage.
The $5.05 million was made available by the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. The EECBG award can be used to help communities improve their energy efficiency, reduce their energy use and pollution, and create local green jobs. Activities eligible for this funding include energy audits and building retrofits in the residential and commercial sector, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements.
“Reducing energy consumption is not only good policy, it is helping create good jobs during this economic downturn,” said Bingaman, who chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “This $5 million is a great investment in Albuquerque and our ‘green energy’ economy.”
“This funding will help give the people of Albuquerque the tools they needs to become more energy efficient with new energy saving projects,” Udall said. “This Recovery funding will create lasting jobs in Albuquerque and save money on energy for years to come.”
“Making investments in efficiency and home grown, clean energy will propel Albuquerque as a green economy leader while spurring on economic growth,” Heinrich said. “These Recovery Act funds enable the industry to hire workers to make homes more efficient and lower families’ utility bills.”
