WASHINGTON, DC - Rhode Island's Congressional delegation today announced that the state will receive $8.03 million in weatherization and energy efficiency funding. This federal aid, which is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that all four members of Rhode Island's Congressional delegation supported, will allow the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, which administers the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), to weatherize as many as 1,200 homes throughout the state. The money, which is a down payment on a total of $20 million in weatherization funding the state is slated to receive, will also help create green jobs and help families lower their energy bills.

"By weatherizing homes to make them more energy efficient, we will help families reduce their energy bills over the long-term and put people back to work immediately. This federal funding will help increase demand for a host of industries related to weatherization - from vehicles to building materials to heating systems," said Reed, who led the Senate effort to increase energy efficiency funding in the bill. "Not only will this federal funding create good-paying, green jobs and help more families lower their energy bills, it will also contribute to the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

"I'm glad that Rhode Island homeowners will have this extra assistance to make their homes more energy-efficient," said Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee who advocated for increased funding in the economic recovery package for State Energy Programs to perform energy efficiency improvements. "When families and businesses can cut energy bills, it eases the strain on their budgets - because in times like these, every little bit counts - and points us toward a more efficient and independent energy future."

"Weatherizing homes helps families save money year-round. It is critical that our nation embrace a new energy economy, one that will create jobs and promote energy independence. These funds will ensure that Rhode Island can move forward with renewable energy projects and households can take advantage of energy efficient products," said Kennedy.

"This latest round of weatherization funding will help Rhode Island families insulate their homes from the cold and extreme heat, as well as keep money in their pockets for other daily living expenses," said Langevin, a member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. "I look forward to working with our state community action agencies to raise awareness about the availability of these weatherization and energy efficiency programs in the coming months."

This Weatherization Assistance Program funding will be available to Rhode Island families making up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level — or about $44,000 a year for a family of four. Weatherization projects allow low-income families to save money by making their homes more energy efficient, which results in average savings of 32 percent for heating bills and savings of hundreds of dollars per year on overall energy bills.

This is the second installment of weatherization funding Rhode Island has received under the stimulus. In March, the state received $2 million to support planning and ramp-up activities. Comprehensive state applications were due May 12. Now that the Department of Energy has reviewed the spending plan, this $8 million (or about 40 percent of the state's total allocation) is being distributed. The remaining 50 percent of funds will be released when state officials meet reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones required by the Recovery Act.

Since the program began in 1975, WAP has helped weatherize more than 33,000 Rhode Island homes, benefitting over 87,000 Rhode Islanders and saving consumers over 101 million gallons of heating oil.