SHAHEEN ANNOUNCES OVER $3.1 MILLION FOR WEATHERIZATION PROJECTS ACROSS NH

(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen today announced that six New Hampshire organizations will receive a total of $3.165 million for weatherization projects across the state as part of the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Weatherization Assistance Program.  The awards include $500,000 for Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack in Concord; $600,000 for Southern New Hampshire Services in Manchester; $500,000 for Southwestern Community Services in Keene; $565,000 for Strafford County Community Action Committee in Dover; $400,000 for Tri-County Community Action Program in Berlin; and $600,000 for the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund in Concord.  The investments announced today will enable these organizations to expand their weatherization programs and will support new pilot projects to demonstrate innovative weatherization delivery and financial models and new technologies.  The New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning submitted the grant application on behalf of the community action agencies. 

"Weatherization projects are among the most efficient and cost-effective ways to conserve energy and create jobs and I am delighted that these outstanding community partners have been recognized today for additional investment," said Shaheen.  "This additional support for weatherization programs will help reduce energy costs for New Hampshire families, support local contractors and small businesses, and reduce our dependence on dirty fossil fuels." 

The award announcements are part of $120 million in Recovery Act funds announced by the DOE, with $90 million awarded to high-performing local weatherization providers to complement and expand their existing weatherization programs.  Each of the selected organizations has already met their milestone of weatherizing 30 percent of their total production goal and spending 30 percent of their Recovery Act funds.  These awards will allow these successful grantees for the first time to install renewable energy systems and cutting-edge energy efficiency technologies in homes to help families save even more on their energy bills, including installing technologies such as solar heating systems, solar photovoltaic panels and shingles, small-scale wind turbines, new insulation technologies, cool roofs, high-efficiency appliances, tankless hot water systems, high-efficiency combination boilers for hot water and heat, in-home energy monitors, and ductless heat pump systems.  Community Action Program Belknap-Merrimack, Southern New Hampshire Services, Southwestern Community Services, Strafford County Community Action Committee, and Tri-County Community Action Program received funding as part of this group of high-performing grantees. 

The additional $30 million from the weatherization program will fund recipients that will demonstrate other innovative approaches to weatherizing low-income single and multifamily homes.  Projects will include new types of weatherization partnerships, financial models that allow for greater private sector leveraging, workforce training and volunteer engagement, and the demonstration of new energy efficiency technologies like in-home energy monitors.  The New Hampshire Community Loan Fund has received funding as part of this group of grantees. 

New Hampshire has ranked among the most efficient states in the country for putting weatherization assistance to work, according to a report from the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Energy, having met and exceeded a goal of 30 percent project completion rate as of April of this year.  Shaheen has visited a number of weatherization projects across the state with DOE officials to highlight the state's progress and the benefits of weatherization.

Weatherization saves families an average of $437 in heating and cooling costs every year at current prices, and reduces energy consumption for the average family by 35 percent, while decreasing national energy consumption by the equivalent of 24.1 million barrels of oil annually.