Waterford working to get $641,000 in energy grants
Thursday, December 3, 2009
By CAROL HOPKINS
Of The Oakland Press
Of The Oakland Press
Waterford Township is moving forward in its efforts to obtain more than $600,000 in federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy grant funds.
The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also called the federal stimulus program. In the program, $3.2 billion was allocated to fund the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program through the U.S. Department of Energy. The Energy Department notified Waterford earlier this year that it was eligible to receive $641,400 in funding.
A list of priority projects was approved at the Nov. 23 township board meeting, and township officials will submit the list to the Department of Energy for its approval.
The projects list was assembled with the help of Ann Arbor-based consulting firm, Carlisle/Wortman Associates.
n In the proposal, 42 percent of the funding is proposed to be used for lighting improvements — estimated to save the township $12,849 in electricity costs annually.
n Thirty-two percent is proposed to be used to conduct energy audits of Township Hall, District Court, CAI Building, and Fire Station 2, 3 and 5 buildings and then implement the energy improvements identified in the audits.
n Nine percent is proposed to be used to subsidize the replacement of 10 township vehicles with high efficiency vehicles during the next three years.
n Six percent is proposed to implement wind energy demonstration projects using Michigan-made Windspire systems on the Township Campus and at Waterford Township pump station 31-1. The Windspire wind turbine generates power when wind blows against its vertical airfoils, causing them to spin. The power is converted to AC electricity, according to the product’s Web site.
n Three percent is proposed to be used to update the township’s nonmotorized pathway and sidewalk plan.
n Three percent is proposed to be used to conduct a two-year comprehensive township buildings energy programming, monitoring, and tracking pilot program.
Aiding the consultant were Department of Public Works Engineering Superintendent Bill Fritz, Water/Sewer Superintendent Dave McKee and Community Planning and Development Director Robert Vallina.
“It provides the most effective use of our energy dollars and will provide the township with a measurable savings through implementation of these energy efficiency actions,” said Vallina.
The list will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy before a Dec. 7 deadline, said Vallina.
“As soon as the Department of Energy signs off on the township’s strategy submittal, the township’s energy funds will be released for the township to implement the priority projects.”
Contact Oakland Press staff writer Carol Hopkins at (248) 745-4645 or carol.hopkins@oak press.com.
The funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also called the federal stimulus program. In the program, $3.2 billion was allocated to fund the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program through the U.S. Department of Energy. The Energy Department notified Waterford earlier this year that it was eligible to receive $641,400 in funding.
A list of priority projects was approved at the Nov. 23 township board meeting, and township officials will submit the list to the Department of Energy for its approval.
The projects list was assembled with the help of Ann Arbor-based consulting firm, Carlisle/Wortman Associates.
n In the proposal, 42 percent of the funding is proposed to be used for lighting improvements — estimated to save the township $12,849 in electricity costs annually.
n Thirty-two percent is proposed to be used to conduct energy audits of Township Hall, District Court, CAI Building, and Fire Station 2, 3 and 5 buildings and then implement the energy improvements identified in the audits.
n Nine percent is proposed to be used to subsidize the replacement of 10 township vehicles with high efficiency vehicles during the next three years.
n Six percent is proposed to implement wind energy demonstration projects using Michigan-made Windspire systems on the Township Campus and at Waterford Township pump station 31-1. The Windspire wind turbine generates power when wind blows against its vertical airfoils, causing them to spin. The power is converted to AC electricity, according to the product’s Web site.
n Three percent is proposed to be used to update the township’s nonmotorized pathway and sidewalk plan.
n Three percent is proposed to be used to conduct a two-year comprehensive township buildings energy programming, monitoring, and tracking pilot program.
Aiding the consultant were Department of Public Works Engineering Superintendent Bill Fritz, Water/Sewer Superintendent Dave McKee and Community Planning and Development Director Robert Vallina.
“It provides the most effective use of our energy dollars and will provide the township with a measurable savings through implementation of these energy efficiency actions,” said Vallina.
The list will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy before a Dec. 7 deadline, said Vallina.
“As soon as the Department of Energy signs off on the township’s strategy submittal, the township’s energy funds will be released for the township to implement the priority projects.”
Contact Oakland Press staff writer Carol Hopkins at (248) 745-4645 or carol.hopkins@oak press.com.
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