Gov. Ivey awards $464,029 to reduce energy costs

Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded grants totaling $464,029 to help local governments, public schools and nonprofit groups cut expenses by making their facilities more energy efficient.

The grant recipients will replace outdated heating, cooling, lighting or other systems with modern and efficient equipment that is less expensive to operate. One grant is also being used to create a resource to help cities, towns and counties ensure that current and future buildings are in line with modern energy codes.

“Upgrading to energy-efficient systems can be an excellent financial investment for taxpayers that will reduce operating costs at local facilities,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to award these grants as an investment in the futures for these cities and counties.”

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program. ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, infrastructure upgrades, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.

“These entities are making an investment in their facilities that will pay dividends for many years to come in energy-bill savings,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Ivey in making this assistance available for these projects.”

To fund the upgrade projects, the governor announced 14 energy-efficiency grants:

·         Catalyst Community Church (Etowah County/Gadsden)—$40,000 to install energy-efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades at the church.

·         Gadsden City Board of Education (Etowah County/Gadsden)—$39,090 to install energy-efficient LED lighting and HVAC upgrades at Grace Academy. 

·         City of Daphne (Baldwin County)—$36,000 to install energy-efficient Demand Controlled Ventilation (DCV) upgrades at the Daphne Civic Center.

·         Riviera Utilities (Baldwin County/Foley)—$21,918 to install energy-efficient LED lighting upgrades at Riviera Utilities Foley office.

·         City of Georgiana (Butler County)—$27,621 to install energy-efficient LED lighting upgrades at the Georgiana Workforce Development Building.

·         City of Luverne Electric Board (Crenshaw County)—$25,000 to install energy-efficient street lighting upgrades in the city. 

·         City of Luverne Water Board (Crenshaw County)—$30,000 to install energy-efficient lift station pumps at the Luverne Wastewater Treatment Plant.

·         City of Millbrook (Elmore County)—$38,700 to install energy-efficient LED lighting upgrades at Legacy Park.

·         Community Service Programs of West Alabama Inc. (Tuscaloosa County)—$40,000 to install energy-efficient LED lightning upgrades and occupancy sensors at the CSP of West Alabama Supportive Services location in the city of Tuscaloosa. 

·         Goodwill Industries of the Gulf Coast (Mobile County)—$37,700 to install energy-efficient HVAC control upgrades at facilities in Mobile County. 

·         Ivy Foundation of Montgomery, Inc. (Montgomery County)—$40,000 to install energy-efficient LED lighting and HVAC upgrades at the Ivy Foundation of Montgomery Centre. 

·         Town of Ider (DeKalb County)—$40,000 to install energy-efficient LED lighting and HVAC upgrades at the Town Hall, Library, Fire Department and Senior Center.

·         Town of Shorter (Macon County)—$23,000 to install energy-efficient LED lighting upgrades at the Deborah Cannon Wolfe School.

·         Southface Energy Institute (statewide)—$25,000 to develop and provide energy codes training activities, resources and technical assistance throughout Alabama.