By Debra DeHaney-Howard
July 28, 2008

More than 30 U.S. Senators, led by Senators Hillary Clinton (NY), Susan Collins (ME), Robert Menendez (NJ) and Bernard Sanders (VT), are calling upon leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee to fully fund the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) during the current fiscal year, responding to the nation’s mayors who have made this a top priority for the 110th Congress.

In their July 23 letter, the bipartisan group of Senators urged Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert C. Byrd (WV) and Ranking Member Thad Cochran (MS) to provide $2 billion for the EECBG program and fully fund the Green Jobs Workforce Training program and the Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program, as Senate appropriators develop the emergency supplemental appropriations bill for the current fiscal year (FY’08).

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which was enacted December 19, 2007, authorized $2 billion annually over five fiscal years (FYs ‘08-‘12) for the EECBG program, establishing a new federal partnership with cities, counties and states to address the nation’s energy and climate protection challenges. The energy law authorized federal resources for the block grant program as well as other initiatives, but actual funding is subject to the annual appropriations process.

Since the EECBG program was enacted, the nation’s mayors have been urging both Senators and Representatives to provide prompt funding through the appropriations process to ensure that this new initiative is launched as soon as possible.

Under the EECBG program, cities and counties will receive financial resources to assist them in their efforts to reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce total energy use, and improve energy efficiency in the transportation, building, and other appropriate sectors. Through the program, mayors and county leaders will have the flexibility to use block grant funds to develop and implement a broad range of energy efficiency and conservation activities, including installing light emitting diodes (LEDs), developing/utilizing renewable energy sources, updating building codes, developing smarter transportation systems, expanding public education programs, and conducting energy audits. The energy block grant program will be administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Joining with Clinton, Collins, Menendez and Sanders on the bipartisan letter were Senators: Biden (DE); Bingaman (NM); Boxer (CA); Brown (OH); Cantwell (WA); Cardin (MD); Carper (DE); Casey (PA); Dodd (CT); Dole (NC); Durbin (IL); Kennedy (MA); Kerry (MA); Klobuchar (MN); Lautenberg (NJ); Levin (MI); Lieberman (CT); Mikulski (MD); Nelson (FL); Salazar (CO); Schumer (NY); Smith (OR); Snowe (ME); Stabenow (MI); Sununu (NH); Whitehouse (RI); and Wyden (OR).