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Eleven Kent County towns will soon be saving substantial money on their energy costs thanks to a federal grant program that’s paying for a variety of efficiency upgrades and improvements.
The municipalities will receive a total of more than $842,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. The money comes from the $3.2 billion stimulus package passed in 2009.
Grant awards range from just over $20,000 to more than $200,000 and will mostly be used for updating public buildings with new insulation, more efficient lighting, and less wasteful heating and ventilation systems.
However, some towns were given funds to cover big-ticket items. The town of Camden will use most of its $135,609 grant allocation to erect solar panels on the town hall and Camden-Wyoming fire station.
Mayor Richard Maly said the solar panels would shave $6,000 per year off the town’s electric bill and amount to a 17% reduction in energy consumption.
Camden town manager James O. Plumley said the solar projects are still in the design phase but should be opened for bidding in the next two months.
Just to the west of Camden, the town of Wyoming is looking forward to receiving $30,366 in grant funding for weatherization upgrades to its municipal buildings.
Mayor-elect Frankie Dale Rife said tight town budgets in recent years have meant more and more maintenance work has been deferred.
“We literally have holes in our doors,” she said. “But without raising taxes [the repair work] wasn’t going to happen.”
Maly said not only does the grant money pay for projects the town wants but can’t afford, the investment actually will improve the budget situation going forward.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to cut expenses without cutting programs,” he said.
A total of 41 municipalities statewide are slated to receive $5.46 million in grants. Towns first received awards ranging from $20,000 to $45,000 based on their populations. Competitive grants were then awarded for specific projects, costing anywhere from $10,000 to $500,000.
Collin O’Mara, secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, said his agency structured the program so the money could reach as many towns as possible.
“This program is hopefully a model,” he said. “We can put a little more money in people’s pockets and have these municipal operating budgets go a little bit further.”
Email Doug Denison at doug.denison@doverpost.com
Eleven Kent County towns will soon be saving substantial money on their energy costs thanks to a federal grant program that’s paying for a variety of efficiency upgrades and improvements.
The municipalities will receive a total of more than $842,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. The money comes from the $3.2 billion stimulus package passed in 2009.
Grant awards range from just over $20,000 to more than $200,000 and will mostly be used for updating public buildings with new insulation, more efficient lighting, and less wasteful heating and ventilation systems.
However, some towns were given funds to cover big-ticket items. The town of Camden will use most of its $135,609 grant allocation to erect solar panels on the town hall and Camden-Wyoming fire station.
Mayor Richard Maly said the solar panels would shave $6,000 per year off the town’s electric bill and amount to a 17% reduction in energy consumption.
Camden town manager James O. Plumley said the solar projects are still in the design phase but should be opened for bidding in the next two months.
Just to the west of Camden, the town of Wyoming is looking forward to receiving $30,366 in grant funding for weatherization upgrades to its municipal buildings.
Mayor-elect Frankie Dale Rife said tight town budgets in recent years have meant more and more maintenance work has been deferred.
“We literally have holes in our doors,” she said. “But without raising taxes [the repair work] wasn’t going to happen.”
Maly said not only does the grant money pay for projects the town wants but can’t afford, the investment actually will improve the budget situation going forward.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to cut expenses without cutting programs,” he said.
A total of 41 municipalities statewide are slated to receive $5.46 million in grants. Towns first received awards ranging from $20,000 to $45,000 based on their populations. Competitive grants were then awarded for specific projects, costing anywhere from $10,000 to $500,000.
Collin O’Mara, secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, said his agency structured the program so the money could reach as many towns as possible.
“This program is hopefully a model,” he said. “We can put a little more money in people’s pockets and have these municipal operating budgets go a little bit further.”
Email Doug Denison at doug.denison@doverpost.com
