HAWAII
TO RECEIVE $1.6 MILLION FOR
ENERGY EFFICIENT INITIATIVES
August
13, 2009
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON-Hawaii
will receive $1.6 million to contract for the installation of energy efficient
light fixtures, water heaters and other devices and to expand energy
conservation education for low-income families, U.S. Senators Daniel K. Inouye
and Daniel K. Akaka announced today.
The
funds come from the U.S. Department of Energy through the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act.
“In
an era of rapidly fluctuating energy costs we must continue to encourage and
implement energy efficient practices,” said Senator Inouye. “Keeping utility
costs down will help our residents make their way through the current recession
and lessen our dependence on imported energy”.
“This Recovery Act funding will save Hawaii
residents money on their utility bills by improving the energy efficiency of
their homes and in turn help reduce our state’s reliance on imported oil,” said
Senator Akaka.
Installation
services include home compact fluorescent light fixtures and solar water heater
systems for single family and multi-family residences, elderly persons’
residences, handicapped persons’ residences and renter’s residences.
The money will be used to install energy efficient devices in more
than 650 homes across the state over the next three years.
The Hawaii Office of Community Services (OCS) will administer the
program through two local community action organizations.
Honolulu Community Action Program Inc. will handle the contract in
Honolulu and Maui Economic Opportunity Inc. will work on Hawaii, Kauai, and
Maui.
The Hawaii OCS will help provide training and technical assistance
for the local agencies to ensure that the weatherization workforce is able to
successfully carry out the goals of the program: reducing energy consumption
and utility bills for low-income families, while creating and retaining jobs
across the state.
After
demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, Hawaii will receive an
additional $2 million, for a total of more than $4 million.
