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Statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Miami Mayor Manny Diaz on Announcement of $2.8 Billion in Energy Efficiency Grants for Cities

Posted on: Thursday, 26 March 2009, 16:23 CDT

WASHINGTON, March 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "The nation's mayors commend the Obama Administration for their decision to distribute $2.8 billion in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) in the Recovery Package, which will benefit hundreds of cities throughout the U.S. Today's announcement by the Department of Energy of the funding guidelines for this program is a milestone in the nation's effort to achieve greater energy independence, climate protection, and sustainability.

"The nation's mayors thank President Obama and Congressional leaders for their commitment to making this investment in energy efficiency and conservation at the community level. These new resources will allow cities, counties and smaller communities to accelerate initiatives that reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable communities.

"We thank Energy Secretary Chu and his team at the Department of Energy for devising a formula that reflects the goals of the Mayors Climate Protection Center, and look forward to working with them. This program will allow flexibility for cities to utilize their block grants in creative ways to meet their energy efficiency and conservation goals, and will aid in creating much-needed green jobs."

The Conference acknowledges key leaders in Congress who were instrumental in supporting the Block Grant including: U.S. Senate - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Appropriations Chair Daniel Inouye, Energy Chair Jeff Bingaman, and Senators Begich, Boxer, Dorgan, Feinstein, Lautenberg, Lugar, Menendez and Sanders. House of Representatives - Speaker Nancy Pelosi and key House leaders, including Appropriations Chair David Obey, Energy Chair Henry Waxman, and Representatives Boucher, Dingell, Fattah, Markey, Pallone, Spratt, Turner, and Visclosky.

The EECBG program was "conceived" by The U.S. Conference of Mayors and was a top priority of the Mayors' 10-Point Plan and the Mayors' MainStreet Recovery Program. So far, more than 935 U.S. Mayors have pledged support for The U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement.

For more information on the Energy & Conservation Block Grant, please visit: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/wip/block_grants.cfm and www.usmayors.org.

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors

Source: PR Newswire

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