Jobs Act grants will fund improvements to deliver energy and operational costs savings in state’s K-12 public schools and colleges
OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire and State Superintendent Randy Dorn today announced the availability of $100 million in competitive grant funds for public school districts and public higher education institutions for improvements to their facilities that save money in energy and operational costs.
The grants are designed for energy projects in education facilities that use the performance-based contracting method, which provides guaranteed construction costs and energy savings. Projects may include such items as new lighting, windows and insulation, as well as new or upgraded heating and cooling systems. Funds were appropriated in the 2010 supplemental capital budget.
“Our immediate goal is to stimulate the economy by creating jobs,” Gregoire said. “We know these construction projects will put people to work right away. In the long term, these projects will have a considerable impact on our economic recovery. Energy efficiency upgrades are proven to significantly reduce operation costs – which will protect valuable tax payer dollars, and at the same time, protect our environment by reducing our energy use.”
“This will give our kids healthier schools and create jobs,” said Rep. Hans Dunshee (D-Snohomish), chair of the Capital Budget Committee. “It will clean asbestos and PCBs and other nasty things from our schools – and save taxpayers money on energy costs.”
Projects will be grants based on the amount of non-state funds in the project, the level of projected energy savings and how quickly funds can be used.
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction will administer $50 million for K-12 public school districts and the state Department of Commerce will administer another $50 million for K-12 public school districts and public higher education institutions.
“The process will be similar to the 2009 OSPI Energy Efficiency Grant Program,” Dorn said, “in which nearly $17 million was awarded to 60 districts for facility energy improvements.” Dorn said that 2010 grant awards will be used to supplement district resources, which may come from district funds, utility incentives and/or low-interest loans.
“It’s well established that that the most cost-effective source of energy is conservation,” said Commerce Director Rogers Weed. “Washington state is a national leader in energy efficiency, so this is a great opportunity to put that expertise to work in public buildings. We’re working hard with our fellow state agencies and private sector partners in the industry to ramp up the program quickly and get workers on the job as soon as possible.”
“The Department of General Administration is proud of its role in helping develop guidelines for the energy-efficiency projects,” said Director Joyce Turner. “We encourage participants to use our award-winning Energy Program, which has a long and successful track record of managing conservation projects across the state.”
At least three rounds of funding are planned, with the first applications due to OSPI by June 25, 2010, and the first applications due to Commerce by July 19, 2010. Subsequent deadline dates will be in August and October for OSPI and September and November for Commerce.
Depending on the availability of funding, there may be a final round with applications due in March 2011.
For more information on the grants at OSPI, visit: https://www.k12.wa.us/SchFacilities/Programs/EnergyEfficiencyGrant.aspx.
For more information on the grants at Commerce, visit: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/site/1335/default.aspx.
Information on the state’s Energy Saving Performance Contracting: https://www.ga.wa.gov/eas/epc/espc.htm.