Gainesville receives federal award to fund local energy-efficiency upgrades

Press release from City of Gainesville

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The City of Gainesville has been named the recipient of an $189,820 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The funding will be used to provide rebates to 25-30 low-income households for energy efficiency upgrades through Gainesville Regional Utilities’ (GRU) Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program.

Gainesville is one of 30 communities in the EECBG Program’s fourth round of funding to receive an award that is aimed at improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and lowering overall energy use while helping residents save money on energy in the long run. 

“This award is not just a win for our community but also a crucial step towards our goal of net zero emissions by 2045,” said Gainesville Chief Climate Officer Dan Zhu.

The program funding includes more than 14 categories of eligible use, enabling communities to invest in projects that align with efforts already in motion to lower energy costs, plan for a clean energy future, and reduce energy burden.  

“Thanks to President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Department of Energy is continuing to meet communities where they are and support them where they need it the most,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. 

“These dollars fit right into the energy plans that cities, counties, Tribes, and states already have to ensure they are set up for success as they pursue a clean energy future,” she said. 

The recent EECBG Program awards were announced Feb. 28. Since the first round was announced in October 2023, the EECBG Program has awarded $91.51 million to 97 communities.  

The EECBG award aligns with the City’s strategic goal to create a sustainable community by addressing climate change and reducing the carbon footprint of the City and of the community.

“Our commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency is stronger than ever, and this grant represents a significant milestone in our journey towards a more sustainable future,” said Zhu.

  • I guess Ward’s trip to D.C. was productive…for some. Hopefully Ward doesn’t get his mouth, I mean hands, on it first.

  • So, who gets this money? Does it go to the people of Gainesville who apply for the aid or is this going into the City coffers to be used for what? Sounds like just another Biden $$ give away with no oversight: makes a good sound bite, helps a select few who know the “requirements “(wink, wink) for getting the money, and checks off a box on someones annual performance review.

    • Print some more Joe! The debt is only increasing by 1 Trillion dollars every 100 days….

  • Low income family, Time to get rid of your gas stoves, window shaker ACs, gas lawn equipment, your trusty washers and dryers for a chance of a little federal money that will run out quickly.

  • Oh boy! Free money from the gubbament. Something tells me April 15th is right around the corner and we will be the ones providing the so called ‘free’ money.

  • A waste of money as is the ‘climate czar’s’ position and staffing.

  • The usual doofusses here don’t understand the difference between an investment that will save money over a very long time – the life of a building for some energy features – and a handout. As with the fiber optics program the same bill funded and which is bringing high speed internet into previous backwaters in north Florida (Kat promised this but of course never delivered and voted against the bill.) this is federal spending Biden caused which is helping red voters more than blue, unlike the constantly partisan jerks like DeSantis and Kat who begin every public appearance with an attack on the president. I guess they liked deficits from tax cuts for wealthy voters and corporations – like Trump got passed – to deficits from investments in all of America like Biden got passed.

    • Going to help “red” voters… in the city of Gainesville??🤣🤣
      That is hilarious!
      Oh… tax cuts mean PEOPLE KEEPING MORE OF WHAT THEY EARN! Government thugs think Americans are their slaves and that our income and bank accounts are their to pillage as they desire buying votes from the entitled! If only the good for nothing scum had to balance the budget like those that own businesses do instead of robbing future generations of their income and bankrupting the country!

    • The usual progressive democrats instrumental in voting for the knuckleheads who don’t do much to help everyone but instead choose to give handouts to a select group.
      In case you missed it: ” The funding will be used to provide rebates to 25-30 low-income households for energy efficiency upgrades through Gainesville Regional Utilities’ (GRU) Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program.”

      That’s because GRU hasn’t offered rebates in years. Instead they’ve continued to increase rates and pass on the City’s costs of pet projects to customers.

  • ““This award is not just a win for our community but also a crucial step towards our goal of net zero emissions by 2045,” said Gainesville Chief Climate Officer Dan Zhu.”

    Notice the term ‘net zero’, and not ‘zero’. It isn’t possible to reach zero emissions and they know this. So what they do is purchase carbon credits to ‘offset’ actual emissions. A total scam. The plan is to literally buy a non tangible made up product which will somehow magically cancel out the actual carbon emissions, thus creating net zero emissions. Who creates and sells these carbon credits?…follow the money

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