Nov. 24--Area governments and residents are being encouraged to apply for energy efficiency programs that might help lower their utility bills.
Brent Childers, a grant reviewer for the Barren River Area Development District, told leaders gathered Monday that the state Department of Local Government has about $6.2 million available for government energy efficiency projects.
Only cities, such as Bowling Green, that receive entitlement funds for Community Development Block Grants are not eligible to apply.
The grant applications for up to $125,000 are due by Dec. 18.
"The process will be very competitive," Childers said.
BRADD Executive Director Rodney Kirtley told leaders that their projects didn't have to be that large, such as heating and cooling system replacement, to apply for the money.
"Actually, if you are asking for a small amount, you will probably get approved," Kirtley said.
Kirtley said he guessed that DLG would like to spread the money around for several $10,000 or so projects rather than making all $125,000 grants.
Projects as simple as changing out light bulbs and light ballasts to more energy efficient ones might be eligible.
"That's money that doesn't have to come out of your budget," he said.
Edmonson County Judge-Executive N.E. Reed said because counties can apply only once for the program and the applications are due soon, there may be other programs to participate in.
"I found out over the weekend that TVA has a program that might help us out," Reed said.
Part of that help could come in the form of energy audits that power suppliers, such as Warren Rural Electric Cooperative Corp., may request TVA to perform, according to Nancy Mitchell, manager of Valley Relations for TVA.
"Beginning in January, we are starting a pilot program that will be offered by four of our distributors in Kentucky: WRECC, BGMU, Hopkinsville Electric and Pennyrile (Electric)," Mitchell said. "It is an advice and incentive program for commercial customers (including governments) that would have a 250 (kilowatt-hour) load or greater."
First customers are asked to do an online audit that identifies potential savings.
"If they qualify, we will do an in-person audit," Mitchell said. "We recommend changes that can be made and then we help set them up with a contractor that can perform the work."
The advice is free, but customers or governments would have to pay for the work.
The incentive comes if customers are able to reduce their loads during TVA's peak consumption periods, which are from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays from June to September. For each kwh reduction they receive a credit of $200.
"If the program works, we hope to roll it out valleywide," Mitchell said.
Interested customers should contact their utilities.
Residential customers who live within the city of Bowling Green may be able to find some help for home energy-related projects. The city received federal energy stimulus funds, part of which will be administered by BRADD for mini-grants of $1,000 to $2,500 and project grants of $5,000 to $25,000, according to Mayor Elaine Walker. The details of that program are still being worked out.
To see more of the Bowling Green Daily News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
http://www.bgdailynews.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email
tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
