By Debra DeHaney-Howard and Kevin McCarty
September 20, 2010

Mayors throughout the U.S. continue to call for additional funding commitments to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program to sustain local energy projects and initiatives now underway with federal resources made available last year.

Inclusion of EECBG funding in President Barack Obama's upcoming Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2012, the final year of the five-year EECBG program authorization enacted in 2007, is seen by mayors as especially important to the sustained success of local energy efforts.

Congressional proponents continue to cite the importance of the President including funding for the EECBG program in his FY 2012 budget which Administration officials are now developing for release early next year.

This message was delivered to senior Department of Energy officials last month when mayors from throughout California convened in San Francisco to discuss the successful deployment of Energy Block Grant resources and the need to include additional funding in the President's upcoming budget.

Led by Conference Trustee and Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, mayors at the August 16 session also assessed how cities are now using these block grants to make their cities more energy efficient and create green jobs. They also talked about the potential for even greater economic benefits through investments in energy efficiency and new technologies if additional funds were made available.

"Mayors know that green jobs and the new green economy are key to America's economic competitiveness, which is why the energy block grant program is at the top of our Mayors- 2010 Metro Agenda for America, our MainStreet investment plan that focuses on putting people back to work and creating an economy that will lead the world for decades to come," said Foster, a past Chair of the Conference's Environment Committee.

Speaking to city leaders from throughout his state, Foster said, "California communities lead the nation on energy and climate work. We have had a running start with all of our early work on energy efficiency and conservation, dating back a couple of decades."

In his remarks, Foster pointed out to his colleagues that the EECBG program provided $242 million directly to 215 California cities and about $60 million to the state's 13 largest counties to build upon successful local efforts.

Foster praised host Mayor Gavin Newsom for his leadership on energy issues. "Mayor Newsom has shown a tremendous amount of leadership on energy efficiency and conservation - the kind of leadership we see through the number of energy programs that have been implemented here in San Francisco," he said.

Newsom outlined his city's plans for its EECBG funds, which included retrofitting municipal facilities, supporting clean energy financing, and replacing residential and multifamily inefficient hot water and low pressure steam boilers. "The Energy Block Grant program is allowing us to improve energy efficiency in almost 150 buildings serving San Francisco's diverse neighborhoods," said Newsom. "More importantly, these energy efficiency projects create and sustain green jobs, save people money on their utility bills, and cut the city's carbon emissions by more than 3,000 tons a year," he continued.

Newsom cited his city's "aggressive" plan to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, noting that this is one of the more ambitious targets in the nation.

During a mid-day press conference, Foster, Newsom and other mayors discussed the importance of continued EECBG funding in support of their local energy and climate initiatives and recognized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her leadership and support of the program. "Speaker Pelosi worked hard to make this program a reality and we would not be here today without her efforts," Foster said.

In discussing the program, Foster said, "Energy Block Grants give use the resources to reduce our energy use and our carbon footprint." Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider praised EECBG as "a great program" and added that, "These funds are helping cities save money to invest in municipal services people have come to expect." Foster and other mayors also praised President Obama for his support of the program by providing funding under the Recovery Act.

Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Cathy Zoi, joined by other Department of Energy officials, told mayors, "Our nation's energy challenges must be addressed through investing in energy efficiency, and through the energy block grant program we are seeing some innovative and complex energy programs."

Zoi also reported on her agency's recent efforts to allocate this first-time funding to the EECBG program. "We are making progress, but need to continue our work to capture the nation's attention on this program," she said. Importantly, Zoi reminded mayors that they should seek timely reimbursement for their expenditures under the program to show how EECBG dollars are being used to reduce energy use, create jobs and stimulate the economy.

Zoi also discussed recent federal policy actions affecting the use of The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, a financing program that allows homeowners and businesses to use property tax assessments to pay for home energy efficiency improvements. The PACE program, which is supported by the Energy Department, has been especially important to cities in California which first piloted its use.

Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran emphasized, "Mayors understand that a successful plan in this country for reducing U.S. energy consumption is grounded in local action, in our cities, counties and regions. California mayors have been leaders on energy issues in this country, and in particular this program, with strong support of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others in the California delegation."

"We know that extending the Energy Block Grant beyond the stimulus bill will help mayors build upon successes already underway and meet the climate protection goals set forth in The U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement which has been signed by 1044 USA mayors," Cochran said.