Rep. Doris Matsui Announces Release of $4.7 million in Energy Grants for City of Sacramento

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: MARA LEE
Friday, November 13, 2009 (202) 225-7163

Rep. Doris Matsui Announces Release of $4.7 million in Energy Grants for City of Sacramento
DOE Funds Promote Local Energy Efficient and Conservation

CA - Today, Representative Doris Matsui (CA-05) announced the release of $4,708,000 in Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) to the City of Sacramento. These funds will help Sacramento's ongoing efforts to become more energy efficient, reduce energy usage, lower fossil fuel emissions, and create green jobs. Funded for the first time by the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was enacted into law earlier this year, the EECBG Program represents the federal government's commitment to deploying the cheapest, cleanest, and most reliable energy technologies nationwide. It empowers local communities to make strategic investments that will meet the country's long-term goals for energy independence and leadership on climate change.

"Through these funds, the Energy Department is making investments at the local levels and demonstrating that energy efficiency and the use of clean energy can happen at all levels," said Congresswoman Matsui. "Investments like these help the Energy department to lead by example, and make real advances towards sustainable and clean energy use. These Programs will also allow budget-strapped local governments to continue their progress towards climate change using clean energy in an efficient way."

Funding for the EECBG Program under the Recovery Act totals $3.2 billion nationally, of which approximately $2.7 billion will be awarded through formula grants to more than 2,300 cities, counties, states, and Indian tribes across the country. In addition, more than $400 million will continue to be delivered through competitive grants in the coming months.

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