Wyo Residents Gobble Up Stimulus Funds
for Renewable Energy

December 16th, 2009 • Filed Under
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Reported by Staff
CHEYENNE — Proving that Wyoming citizens are not just interested in what traditional extraction industries can do for them,  the Wyoming State Energy Office announced that it has obligated all federal stimulus funding designed for the residential renewable energy program and has created a waiting list for those still interested in the program.

On Dec. 1 the State Energy Office announced that more than $2.2 million in federal stimulus funds were available to Wyoming residents to help defray the cost of installing renewable energy systems in their homes. Within 10 days, 332 applications were received, obligating $2,254,580.

“The response to this program indicates there is a growing interest in Wyoming for renewable energy systems,” said Shannon Stanfill, program manager for the State Energy Office. “Though the funds for this program have all been obligated, we will be looking into ways we can help meet the obvious demand that exists in the state.”

The State Energy Office will continue to take applications for the program and place applicants on a waiting list. In the event that obligated funds do not result in legal grant agreements or that projects are not completed, then funds will be re-obligated to the waiting list.

The residential renewable energy program provides grants of up to $10,000 or 50 percent of project costs, whichever is less, for installing photovoltaic (solar), small wind, and ground source heat energy systems at Wyoming homes.

The funding is part of the $3.1 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) appropriation to the U.S. Department of Energy to fund state programs that prioritize energy savings, increase the use of renewable energy, and create or retain jobs.

The State Energy Office is housed in the Wyoming Business Council. On the Web: www.wyomingbusiness.org.

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