From the Langevin Press office:

CRANSTON RECEIVES ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANT

WARWICK, RI – Congressman Jim Langevin and Cranston Mayor Allan Fung today announced that the City of Cranston was awarded a $50,000 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant to help the city improve its energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and create clean energy jobs. The funding is from the Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Reducing energy costs across our municipalities is a major component to getting our economy back on track and will allow Cranston’s taxpayer dollars to be used more efficiently,” said Langevin. “I look forward to learning more about how the city will use this additional resource and appreciate Mayor Fung’s work to bring stimulus funds directly to Cranston.”

“On behalf of the taxpayers of Cranston, I want to thank Congressman Langevin for his efforts,” said Mayor Fung. “In these tough economic times and given the importance of energy conservation, this money will be used to conduct an energy audit of municipal and school buildings as a first step toward attaining maximum energy efficiency. We are eager to share with the Congressman the results of our audit and the good work that will come as a result of our joint efforts.”

Eligible EECBG projects include energy audits and building retrofits in the residential and commercial sector, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements.

EECBG Program funding under the Recovery Act totals $3.2 billion, of which approximately $2.7 billion will be awarded through formula grants to more than 2,300 cities, counties, states, and Indian tribes nationwide.