Tracy City is among the 38 communities that received word on June 15 that it has been awarded a $125,000 grant by the Clean Tennessee Energy program. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau announced more than $3.1 million to fund energy efficiency projects for local governments and municipalities, utilities and state entities across Tennessee.
Tracy City’s grant was awarded for a proposal to conduct a major retrofit at the South Cumberland Learning and Development Center, which is being developed on the site of the old Grundy County High School. The project will consist of new HVAC units, more ceiling insulation and caulking exterior windows.
The building was constructed in 1937 and is currently vacant. Additionally, the project is being implemented under the direction of the U.S. Department of Energy as “Energy Savers” for construction and renovation.
The various improvements will result in an estimated 30 percent reduction in annual kWh consumption, and an estimated $10,000 a year in monetary savings. An estimated 467 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced from the atmosphere.
“Clean Tennessee Energy grants fund projects that help our communities become more energy-efficient while providing long-term cost savings for taxpayers,” Haslam said. “I want to thank all of these groups for their commitment to improving our communities, our environment and our state.”
The grant program provides financial assistance to eligible entities in Tennessee to purchase, install and construct environmental mitigation projects, and this is the largest amount of funding that has been allocated from the grant program since its inception.
Funding for the projects comes from an April 2011 Clean Air Act settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority. Under the Consent Decree, Tennessee will receive $26.4 million over five years to fund clean-air programs in the state.
To date, TDEC has reimbursed roughly $6.1 million in funding to grantees for a variety of innovative projects to reduce environmental impacts and operating costs at sites of new construction and sites with aging infrastructure.
For more information go to <www.tn.gov/environment/energygrants/>.
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