The U.S. Department of Energy announced last week that Atlanta has been awarded nearly $530,000 as part of a national grant program worth more than $17.7 million.
It’s the latest round of awards from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, which is funded by President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The City of Milton will also receive $76,350 to assess city facilities and EV infrastructure.
According to the City of Atlanta in a recent press release, the grant will support improvements at key municipal sites, including a wellness center, a fire station and the historic Sweet Auburn Municipal Market, where vendors are currently battling high energy costs.
The energy-based initiative coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Municipal Market. The Atlanta City Council also approved $1.26 million in funding earlier this month for vendor booth upgrades, enhanced security, small business grants and merchant training at the market.
The energy efficiency grant will cover assessments, retrofits, benchmarking and certifications at the municipal sites. The city will also develop a standardized process and software platform for automating municipal building data collection and analysis in its goal of 100% clean energy by 2035.
“Atlanta is recognized nationally for leading the way in climate resilience, and this funding brings us one step closer to achieving our clean energy goals,” said Mayor Andre Dickens in the press release. “By lowering energy costs and improving efficiency in public facilities, we are building a more sustainable city that works for all of our communities.”
“The success of America’s clean energy transition will be found at the state and local level,” added U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm in a release from the department. “The EECBG Program recognizes that climate solutions are not one-size fits all and provides localities with the tools needed to increase access to clean energy and boost energy resilience through community-led initiatives.”
Atlanta and Milton were just the latest Georgia governments to receive funding through the EECBG program. The previous awards are as follows:
- The State of Georgia received $2.99 million to establish a new sub-granting program for local governments to make them more energy efficient.
- Cobb County received $557,290 for the construction of a Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM) facility, the development of a Sustainability Action Plan (SAP), the replacement of 11 outdated public EV chargers with more efficient models and the purchasing of seven solar-powered off-grid charging stations.
- Athens-Clarke County received $177,160 to establish the Appliance Assistance Initiative, which will provide energy-efficient upgrades for appliances in roughly 10 low-income homes.
- Forsyth County received $259,710 to purchase two propane buses that will replace gasoline-fueled buses used by the county’s public transportation system.
- Savannah received $199,050 to develop energy conservation measures in city buildings, which will include lighting upgrades, retro commissioning and HVAC retrofits.
- Henry County received $249,580 to install an automated HVAC control system at the county’s administration building.
- Warner Robins received $135,070 to install four fast EV charging stations with shade structures near Robins Air Force Base, which will also support a Middle Georgia Clean Air Coalition initiative to ensure that no driver in the region is ever more than 15 minutes away from an EV charging location.
Georgia recently announced that it is launching two new pilot programs offering rebates for home energy efficiency, both funded by $220 million from the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden administration’s landmark climate legislation.
Emily Jones contributed to this report.
