Energy funds to speed adoption of renewable technology
Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced Monday the release of $153 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for state energy programs in seven states, including Georgia.
“This funding will provide an important boost for state economies, help to put Americans back to work, and move us toward energy independence,” Secretary Chu said. “It reflects our commitment to support innovative state and local strategies to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy while insisting that taxpayer dollars be spent responsibly.”
Using $32.9 million, Georgia will prioritize energy savings, create or retain jobs, increase the use of renewable energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Georgia will jump-start numerous programs with these funds, including:
- The State Utilities Retrofit Program, administered by the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority. In this new program, Georgia proposes to allocate $65 million to retrofit state government facilities.
- Conduct energy audits, assessments, and capital projects to pay for the incremental cost difference between standard and high-efficiency technologies.
Proposals for funding will be selected based on the projects’ ability to comply with state and federal energy goals and priorities, including energy independence, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the creation of green jobs.
With Monday’s funding release, Georgia now has 50 percent of its total ARRA state recovery program money.
The remaining 50 percent of funds will be released once Georgia meets reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones required by ARRA. After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, Georgia will receive more than $41 million in additional funding, for a total of almost $82.5 million.
Monday’s funding release comes on the heels of a report from The Savannah Morning News that says plans for the largest solar power projects were delayed in Chatham County when Georgia Power said last month that it is out of funds for solar and other “green” projects.
From the Morning News:
“We had to cap the amount we would buy back, because there’s only so much the program would bear as we rolled it out and it started to be developed,” said Ervan Hancock, Georgia Power’s renewable and green strategy manager.
Savannah-based solar advocate Jack Star called the cap “infuriating.”
“Just at the time alternative energy is beginning to take root, they are stifling these initiatives by artificially putting a cap on it,” he said. “This is unbelievable at a time when the rest of the country is moving forward with alternatives.”
Georgia Power’s Green Energy Program, launched nearly three years ago, has enrolled about 4,400 customers among a total customer base of 2.3 million. Those enrolled voluntarily purchase nearly 19,000 blocks of 100-kilowatt-hours each per month for an extra $3.50 to $4.50 per block. That money funds the premium that Georgia Power pays to producers of solar and other green power.
Georgia Power has applied to the Public Service Commission to expand by 40 percent its ability to purchase green energy, Hancock said, but the company won’t know until August if it’s granted that ability.
Meanwhile, Georgia Power is trying to attract new customers to buy the premium-priced green energy. Company officials also have issued a request for proposals outlining larger-scale projects – those above 100 kilowatts (about enough to power 25 homes or about a one-half to one-acre solar panel array).