RSS
Nebraska Farmers To Receive USDA Disaster Assistance
Nelson: Iraqi Government – Not U.S. Taxpayers – Should Pay For Continued American Presence In Iraq
Nelson Calls On USTR To Push Russia For Fair Treatment For U.S. Pork Producers
Nelson Leads Effort To Withdraw Regulation On Young Farm Workers
Read More > >
Source: Daily Nebraskan
As part of the federal government’s efforts to improve energy efficiency and bolster the economy, the Nebraska State Energy Program will receive more than $30 million to support renewable-energy projects and energy-efficiency programs from the federal-stimulus package.
The State Energy Program provides information and energy-efficiency services to consumers and other small energy users across the state. The $30 million will go to funding existing programs, such as $25,000 to the Wind for Schools program, as well as establishing new programs including developing renewable energy curriculum for Nebraska’s community colleges.
$11 million will go to the state’s existing Dollar and Energy Savings Loans program, which gives loans for energy-efficient building improvements.
Jerry Loos, public information officer for the Nebraska State Energy Office, said funding loan programs is a smart use of federal money because the programs eventually bring additional revenue to the energy office. As borrowers begin to pay back their loans and accumulated interest, the energy office receives more money it can use to provide even more loans.
“When we see a one-time funding opportunity, we realize it might not come along again for another generation,” Loos said. “So we think about how we can make a wise use of these funds.”
Along with creating a continuing source of funding for energy-efficiency projects, the stimulus money is also expected to create a number of new jobs that will help the state economy, said Tom Fazzini, press secretary for U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson.
Nelson was one of the senators who helped pass the stimulus package. The Energy Department’s funding proposal estimates more than 300 jobs could be created or retained through stimulus-funded projects.
While the stimulus funding will be a big help to the State Energy Program, Loos said it does come with some stipulations. The funding is distributed in chunks, with $15 million already delivered and the rest of the money coming once funded programs meet certain performance requirements.
There are also some projects the stimulus money can’t be spent on, like new construction or research.
“It’s a balancing act in terms of what you can do under federal law and the goals of the legislation the funding comes from,” Loos said.
More than $6 billion of the $787.2 billion stimulus package will go toward state energy-efficiency programs. While state energy programs have existed in some form since the 1970s, Loos said more public awareness about the importance of energy efficiency has helped the programs receive more focus and funding from the stimulus package.
“Energy efficiency is the cheapest way to save money on energy,” Loos said. “If you’re using less, you usually wind up saving money.”
Price increases on fuel sources such as gas and oil have been a big factor in raising public concern about energy efficiency, Loos said.
“When gas is at $4, people are usually more interested in energy efficiency for their cars,” he said.
While the stimulus money will only be a one-time source of funding, Loos said if state energy programs put the money towards strong programs with long-term benefits like loan programs, the one-time shot of funding could benefit these programs into the future.
“It all depends on how the funding is used,” he said.
###
Search: Economy, Labor, Energy, Nelson in the News