WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced $20.2 million in Recovery Act funding to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in South Carolina.  

Under DOE’s State Energy Program, South Carolina proposed a statewide plan that prioritizes energy savings, creates or retains jobs, increases the use of renewable energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.  This initiative is part of the Obama Administration’s national strategy to support job growth, while making a historic down payment on clean energy and conservation.

Secretary Chu announced a total of more than $204 million for State Energy Programs in 10 states including: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington.  Each of the states is receiving 40 percent of their total State Energy Program (SEP) funding authorized under the Recovery Act.

“This funding will provide an important boost for state economies, help to put Americans back to work, and move us toward energy independence," said Secretary Chu. "It reflects our commitment to support innovative state and local strategies to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy while insisting that taxpayer dollars be spent responsibly."  

With today's announcement, South Carolina will now have received 50 percent of its total Recovery Act SEP funding. The initial 10% of total funding was previously available to support planning activities; the remaining 50% of funds will be released once it meets reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones required by the Recovery Act.  After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive more than $25 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $50 million.

South Carolina will use its Recovery Act SEP funding to provide grants and loans to improve energy efficiency in public school districts, public colleges and universities, and state agencies to reduce the burden of energy bills for taxpayers, while creating jobs and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  South Carolina also intends to provide financial assistance to various industrial, commercial and small business entities to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.  This financial assistance, along with education and training programs included in the SEP, will help create clean energy jobs in the state and make business and industry more economically stable.

Under the Recovery Act, DOE expanded the types of activities eligible for State Energy Program funding, which include energy audits, building retrofits, education and training efforts, transportation programs to increase the use of alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles, and new financing mechanisms to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy investments.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act appropriated $3.1 billion to the State Energy Program to help achieve national energy independence goals and promote local economic recovery. States use these grants at the state and local level to create green jobs, address state energy priorities, and adopt emerging renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Transparency and accountability are important priorities for SEP and all Recovery Act projects.  Throughout the program’s implementation, DOE will provide strong oversight at the local, state, and national level, while emphasizing with states the need to quickly award funds to help create new jobs and stimulate local economies.