Leveraged with Existing Clean Energy Programs, Funds Will Maximize Results and Highlight State’s Energy Leadership   TRENTON - Governor Jon S. Corzine today announced the details of New Jersey’s application for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to be distributed under the federal Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program.  New Jersey will receive $75.4 million under the program of which approximately $61 million will go directly to 75 eligible units of local government and $14.4 million will be administered by New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program operated by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. The state’s submission detailed its plans for the $14.4 million in federal funding.  “New Jersey’s share of federal energy efficiency and conservation funding will put our residents back to work in jobs that will increase our energy security while reducing our carbon footprint,” said Governor Corzine.  “It will also help control energy costs for local and state government by reducing energy bills and future energy infrastructure needs. New Jersey ratepayers, taxpayers and residents will benefit from these projects for years to come.”       The energy efficiency and conservation funds appropriated under ARRA are distributed using a population-based formula under which 75 New Jersey local governments are eligible for direct grants totaling $61 million.  These include cities and municipalities with a population of at least 35,000, and counties with a net population of at least 200,000 after reducing population totals by the population of all cities and municipalities receiving direct funding under the program.  The EECBG Program also requires that not less than 60% of state funds be shared with local governments that are not eligible for direct formula grants.  This group includes 501 municipalities and 11 counties in the state.   In its application, New Jersey allocated 71 percent of its $14.4 million EECBG funds for local government entities that are not eligible for direct formula grants.  The remaining 29 percent of the funds – approximately $4.2 million –will be allocated for work at state government buildings and facilities.  These funds will be managed by the Treasury Department’s Office of Energy Savings.   New Jersey’s proposal would leverage federal stimulus funding with the state’s existing energy efficiency and conservation programs to maximize energy savings. Under the local government allocation portion of the state’s funding, local governments in the state that do not quality for direct grants from the DOE can apply for a rebate from the state for energy efficiency and conservation work if they have obtained an energy audit of at least one public building through the BPU’s Office of Clean Energy Local Government Energy Audit (LGEA) Program. Created last year, the LGEA Program provides subsidized energy audits for municipal and local government-owned facilities, including offices, courtrooms, town halls, police and fire stations, sanitation buildings, transportation structures, schools and community centers.  Municipalities that are serviced by electric cooperatives or municipal electric utilities currently are not eligible for the LGEA Program because their ratepayers do not pay the Societal Benefit Charge (SBC), which private-utility ratepayers pay, and which funds the LGEA Program.  New Jersey has proposed setting aside funds for energy audits for these local governments in a separate ARRA application submitted in May for the State Energy Program.  Approval of that application by DOE is anticipated in the coming weeks and would provide every local government in the state with access to the LGEA Program.  Once local governments have undergone an audit, New Jersey will use its LGEA administrative structure to process applications for EECBG rebates of up to $20,000 for energy efficiency improvements recommended in the audits.  With the state’s proposal, every local government in the state will have the opportunity for an energy audit and implementation of identified efficiency strategies funded either directly or indirectly through ARRA.  The remaining 29 percent of the EECBG funds will be used for energy efficiency and conservation measures at state government buildings and facilities.  New Jersey state government controls hundreds of buildings throughout the state and spends nearly $128 million annually on energy for its various facilities.  Conservation and efficiency measures will provide long-lasting reductions in the cost of energy at these facilities.  New Jersey’s plan for EECBG funding was approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.  “New Jersey’s proposal was specifically designed to maximize the efficiency and conservation results from these federal dollars,” said BPU President Jeanne M. Fox. “Our ability to leverage these funds with existing programs once again highlights the visionary character of Governor Corzine’s Energy Master Plan and the national prominence of our Clean Energy Program.”     Details concerning application processes, selection methods, selected projects and progress on selected projects will be made publicly available at the state’s recovery website at: http://www.nj.gov/recovery/.  In addition, BPU staff will work with each of the state entities implementing the programs to ensure they meet the reporting requirements of the EECBG and the DOE.    ###