Douglas awarded $195,000 stimulus grant

Staff Reports

Douglas County was awarded $195,000 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support energy efficiency and conservation activities.

"The funds provide a big boost in our efforts to reduce energy costs almost immediately," said Steve Mokrohisky, assistant county manager. "We are also working to develop a comprehensive energy management plan that will establish a road map for continuous improvement and cost reductions into the future."

Four primary projects were approved by the federal Department of Energy.

The first is the development and implementation of an energy management plan for county facilities. Other projects include replacement of 5,300 fluorescent lights with high efficiency, lower wattage lights, replacement of 190 street lamps with higher efficiency and lower wattage lamps, and an analysis of all county facilities to identify additional improvements and savings.

"We are projecting savings of $47,800 annually in electrical charges and a reduction of 600,000 tons in greenhouse gas emissions," said Chris Oakden, Douglas County's building services supervisor. "Additional savings and reductions are expected after the energy management plan and building mechanical systems analysis are complete."

County commissioners will discuss the grant and planned projects at its meeting Thursday.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, administered by the Department of Energy, was funded for the first time by the Recovery Act.

The program provides $3.2 billion in total funding for energy efficiency and conservation work in cities, counties, states and Indian tribes nationwide to help improve energy efficiency, reduce energy use and create jobs locally.