Manatee awarded grant for energy efficiency

Manatee awarded grant for energy efficiency

The Manatee Board of County Commissioners has accepted $2.4 million in federal stimulus funds as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. The grant is expected to cover three Manatee County Government jobs and retain or create up to 64 jobs in the private sector over the next six months.

The county expects to use $1.5 million to replace two older 120-ton chillers and connection to cooling towers in the Historic Court House with high-efficiency chillers in the Judicial Center. It will spend $580,436 to replace 1,178 roadway light fixtures with high-efficiency LED lighting, $119,764 to replace inefficient lighting at the Manatee County Detention Center.

In addition, $60,000 will go toward Workforce Development programs that support energy efficiency and weatherization in buildings and education for homeowners and $20,000 will be applied over the next two years toward specialized training programs for building staff to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certifications for plans review.