By Judy Sheahan and Debra DeHaney-Howard
February 11, 2008

Eligible Activities Under the EECBG Program Developing/implementing an energy efficiency and conservation strategy; Retaining technical consultant services to assist in the development of such a strategy; Conducting residential and commercial building energy audits; Establishing financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements (e.g., loan programs, rebate programs, waive permit fees); Providing grants to nonprofit organizations to perform energy efficiency retrofits; Developing/implementing programs to conserve energy used in transportation (e.g., flex time by employees, satellite work centers, promotion of zoning requirements that promote energy efficient development, transportation infrastructure: bike lanes/pathways, pedestrian walkways, and synchronized traffic signals); Developing and implementing building codes and inspection services to promote building energy efficiency; Implementing energy distribution technologies; Developing public education programs to increase participation and efficiency rates for recycling programs; Purchasing/implementing technologies to reduce and capture methane and other greenhouse gases generated by landfills or similar sources; Installing light emitting diodes (LEDS); Developing, implementing, and installing on or in any government building of onsite renewable energy technology that generates electricity from renewable resources (solar and wind energy, fuel cells, and biomass); and Any other activity as determined by the Secretary of Energy in consultation with the Secretaries of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

During the Conference of Mayors 76th Winter Meeting held January 23-25 in Washington (DC), mayors celebrated the passage of the “Energy Independence Act of 2007,” which included the Conference’s number one priority — the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) — but they also called on Congress to now fully fund the program. The new law authorizes $2 billion annually over five fiscal years (FYs 2008-2012) for grant assistance to cities, counties and states for energy efficiency and conservation programs.

“This Block Grant creates a partnership between the federal, state and local governments to jumpstart programs throughout the United States that will encourage energy efficiency and energy independence,” Conference of Mayors President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer said. “And while this is a tremendous victory, we are not yet done. Now we need Congress to fully fund this program.”

“The issues surrounding climate change and rising energy prices are too important to be ignored,” Palmer said. “That is why the Energy Block Grant was listed as our number one priority in our 10-Point plan — Strong Cities…Strong Families…for a Strong America.”

Palmer congratulated all of the mayors for their hard work throughout the year to get this bill passed. Palmer gave a special acknowledgement to Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez for his diligent work with both of his Senators who are the chair and ranking member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that had jurisdiction on this issue. Palmer acknowledged and thanked members of the House and Senate who were instrumental in securing passage for the bill. Special thanks was given to members of the House including: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA) and Representatives John Dingell (MI), Steny Hoyer (MD), Albert Wynn (MD), Rick Boucher (VA), and Mike Turner (OH). Key Senate members that were acknowledged included: Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) and Senators Jeff Bingaman (NM), Pete Domenici (NM), Robert Menendez (NJ), and Bernard Sanders (VT).

The newly created EECBG program will be administered by the Department of Energy (DOE). The block grant provides direct resources to cities, counties and states to help them reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce total energy use, and improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building and other appropriate sectors.

Sanders (VT), who was a key advocate for the passage of the block grant, echoed the importance of fully funding the bill during a luncheon address. Sanders complimented the mayors on their green initiatives and said that the block grant will be a tool to be innovative and experimental, and ultimately help cities, towns and state governments to go green. “We need to push for a touchdown…and get these programs funded,” Sanders said. The current funding goal is $2 billion annually for the next five years.

During a special session focused on how the EECBG program would work, Conference Executive Director and CEO Tom Cochran provided an overview of the key features of the EECBG program, including the types of activities that are eligible under the program. He also discussed strategies to secure full funding for the program. Cochran said, “I agree with Senator Sanders that an authorization is just a press release and now it is crunch time to come together to get funding for this program.” Cochran spoke of the necessity to pull together cities and counties together to do a “full court press” on Congress and explain the importance of how this program will make a difference in every community.

Representative Albert Wynn’s (MD) Legislative Assistant Ridg Mills also participated in this special session and thanked the mayors for all of their hard work. Mills said, “Representative Wynn was very excited to work with you on this bill. Your support was incredibly important for us to get this bill passed. Your letters, your calls, your bugging your Congressman at a local event, pushed this bill over the top and got it included in the final bill.”

“The Energy Efficiency Block Grant will support mayors’ efforts nationwide to combat the causes of climate change and create new and green jobs in our communities. I want you to talk with your Congressional delegation —­ both the House and Senate — and encourage them to fully fund this program,” Palmer said.