Philadelphia Receives $14.1 Million In Energy Efficiency, Conservation Recovery Funding

Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced this week the City of Philadelphia will receive $14.1 million in funding through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant.

These funds will be invested over the next 12-18 months in reducing energy use and costs, community development, and furthering the City’s sustainability priorities.

“With our sustainability framework firmly in place, a new sustainability director at the helm, and with unprecedented investment flowing to the city through the Recovery Act, we are well on our way towards achieving many of the goals outlined in Greenworks Philadelphia,” said Mayor Nutter.

“We will invest this money wisely to lower our energy use, save money, and build an economy fit for the 21st Century. Philadelphia is fast becoming a national leader on sustainability and innovation.”

Philadelphia’s formula allocation of $14.1 million will be combined with other funding to support a number of priorities, including:

-- Creating a revolving loan program which will give businesses and non-profits access to affordable capital to make energy efficiency improvements. They can use the savings that they achieve from the improvements to repay the low-interest loan. Grants will also be provided for the commercialization of innovative technologies, helping businesses that are on the cutting edge bring their products to market.

-- Improving municipal buildings through energy audits and building retrofits.

-- Replacing 85,000 traffic lights with new, low energy LED lights.

-- Expanding the incentive-based recycling program citywide through a partnership with RecycleBank. The City anticipates that the program will increase the percentage of waste diverted to recycling by 5-10 percent, which would result in an additional 30-60,000 tons being diverted from trash to recycling each year, generating huge savings in avoided landfill fees.

-- Installing 1,000 bike racks on commercial corridors throughout Philadelphia.

-- Expanding the City’s use of Big Belly solar-powered trash compactors and on-street recycling units, replacing 400 traditional wire litter baskets with 260 solar compactors and 115 recycling units on commercial corridors throughout the city. These units are in addition to the 500 trash compactors and 210 recycling units installed in Center City this year. Replacing traditional baskets with these new units will reduce scheduled collections from five times a week to twice a week.

“This program is an exciting new funding stream from the federal government. The investments that we have identified will set Philadelphia on a path to a low energy, low cost, innovative future,” said Katherine Gajewski, Director of Sustainability.

Much of this investment will be made in the areas of economic development and transportation.

“It’s exciting to see the connection between the environment and the economy made real with these funds. These investments will create jobs for Philadelphians, while helping local businesses reduce their bottom line. In this economy, what could be more important?” asked Acting Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Alan Greenberger.

“The Streets Department will make tangible investments in our transportation and recycling infrastructure to provide livable communities, bolster commercial corridors, save energy, and save money through a variety of initiatives,” said Rina Cutler, Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Public Utilities.