State Jobs Act awards $17 million for energy cost savings in public schools

For Immediate Release: August 11, 2010

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Washington State Department of Commerce today announced the selection of 29 public education institutions that will receive almost $17 million in grants to create jobs and save energy costs. Total cost for all the projects is more than $44 million, including more than $26 million of non-state funding. An estimated 660 jobs will be created.

�These projects are a double win for Washington state,� Gregoire said. �They create immediate construction jobs, which is a boon to this industry that has been hit especially hard during the recession. And they create long-term cost savings by making our public facilities more energy efficient, which ensures we get the most value for our taxpayer dollars.�

The state�s 2010 supplemental capital budget included $50 million for the Washington State Department of Commerce for energy cost savings grants. The Jobs Act for Public K-12 and Higher Education grants are being awarded through a competitive process, and may be used solely for energy and cost savings improvements.

The immediate goal of the program is to stimulate Washington�s economy by creating jobs. The long-term goal is to reduce the energy costs at the state�s public education facilities.

Projects for the first round of funding were selected from 37 grant applications whose submitters requested more than $32 million. Competitive rounds are scheduled through March 2011 if funding is available. Grant recipients are limited to a maximum of $5 million.

For a list of grant recipients, visit: http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/20100811_recipients.pdf

�These funds support communities in improving public building performance, save energy and will create immediate jobs in the construction sector,� said Rogers Weed, director of the Department of Commerce.

For more information on the Jobs Act, go to www.commerce.wa.gov/site/1335/default.aspx.

Commerce is the lead state agency charged with growing and improving jobs. For more information, please visit www.commerce.wa.gov.

Editor�s note: This funding is separate from the 2010 supplemental capital budget appropriation (Section 5007 of ESHB 2836) which provides $50 million to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for energy cost savings grants for K-12 public schools only. For more information on that funding, please visit the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Energy Improvement Grant Website.