Hollywood getting $1.3 million from stimulus for energy efficiency and conservation

The City of Hollywood has been allocated up to $1.3m as part of the newly created Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program run by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This new program is modeled after the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program which has supplied funding for a broad range of community development activities since 1974.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 appropriated $3.2 billion for the EECBG Program. Over $2.6 billion in federal grant dollars are now available to units of local government, states, territories and Indian tribes to reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency. Nearly $1.9 billion is currently available to cities and counties. “In my State of the City Address, I pledged that protecting the environment would be a top priority.  With these funds, we will have the ability to take meaningful strides in making Hollywood more energy efficient,” says Hollywood Mayor Peter Bober. “The public must be involved in our efforts to use these precious dollars in the most cost effective manner possible.”

The City of Hollywood’s allocation of EECBG funding is based on a formula that uses 2007 U.S. Census data on resident and daytime/commuter populations. This data is used to help calculate the energy use of the population.

Funds can be used community-wide, not only for government owned facilities and infrastructure. Specific activities eligible for funds include:

· Development of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy

· Residential and Commercial Building Energy Audits

· Financial Incentive Programs for energy efficiency improvements

· Grants to Non-profit Organizations and Governmental Agencies for Energy Efficiency Retrofits.

· Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs for Buildings and Facilities

· Energy Efficient Transportation Programs

· Inspections to promote building energy efficiency

· Conservation Programs including source reduction, recycling and recycled content procurement programs

· Program to Reduce and Capture gases generated by landfills or similar waste-related sources

· Energy Efficient Traffic Signals and Street Lighting

· Renewable Energy Technologies for Government Buildings

The goal of the EECBG program is to reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce total energy use, improve energy efficiency in transportation and building, spur economic growth and create and retain jobs. The City has formally registered its interest in submitting a proposal for the allocated funds. Proposals are due before June 25, 2009.

For additional information, please contact Raelin Storey, Public Affairs and Marketing Director at

Related posts:

1. Wasserman-Schultz reflects on stimulus package one year later
2. Broward County briefs

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