alarm:clock

Alternative Energy - Friday, February 19, 2010

DOE Sprinkles $8M On Cities And Towns

Seeking to help cities and towns develop or expand their local energy assurance plans in emergency power disruption situations, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that Department of Energy was awarding over $8 million to 43 cities and towns.

Unlike many previous awards under the American Recover and Reinvestment Act, the cities and towns who received today’s Local Energy Assurance Planning (LEAP) dollars were selected as part of a competitive process. Cities and towns in Colorado knew how to play the game as the Rocky Mountain state had the highest number of recipients (6) and received the largest total of money ($804,533). California finished second with 3 cities receiving $700,000.

Recipients will use their LEAP funds to hire and train people who will respond to energy emergencies including blackouts, hurricanes, floods, ice storms, or possible terrorist attacks. The awarded money will also be used to identify potential disruption scenarios in each community and how to improve response and recovery time from these situations. But with each recipient receiving between $58,500 and $300,000, each of the awardees will supplement their grant with their own funds.