BETHLEHEM, Pa. — With $1.8 million in state grants up for grabs, local officials across Pennsylvania have an opportunity to upgrade energy efficiency in municipal buildings.
“Reducing energy use both cuts local governments’ utility bills and helps fight climate change, making this program a win-win,” Jessica Shirley, acting secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection, said in a news release.
The Municipal Opportunities for Retrofits and Energy Efficiency Program "can result in reduced energy bills for communities, and I encourage municipal governments to take advantage of this special grant and loan to finance their energy-focused projects,” Shirley said.
Officials from the state Energy Development Authority last week announced the opening of grant applications for the Municipal Opportunities for Retrofits and Energy Efficiency, or MORE, Program.
While the program offers both grants and loans to eligible Pennsylvania municipalities and municipal authorities, $1.8 million in grant funds will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
The MORE program is a creative use of public funds that we hope will serve as a catalyst for local governments seeking to upgrade building energy performance.Geoff Bristow, acting executive director of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority
The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority "is excited to add new tools to help Pennsylvanians reduce energy costs and improve energy performance,” said Geoff Bristow, the agency’s acting executive director.
“The MORE program is a creative use of public funds that we hope will serve as a catalyst for local governments seeking to upgrade building energy performance.”
Eligible municipalities can apply for a MORE grant of up to $50,000 through Oct. 25.
“Grant funds may be used by local governments to identify and design energy efficiency projects, and to buy down the interest rate of a MORE Loan,” officials said.
“MORE Program participants are strongly encouraged to apply for the MORE Grant first, as it is intended to reduce the hurdles of securing financing for energy efficiency projects.”
A Lehigh Valley lender
The MORE Loan is a financing program to help local governments pay for energy efficiency upgrades, building retrofits and onsite renewable energy generation, when paired with energy efficiency, officials said.
Officials from the state Energy Development Authority are operating the program on behalf of the state Department of Environmental Protection, according to the release.
The former has collaborated with the National Energy Improvement Fund to design and administer the program.
The NEIF, headquartered at 1005 North Brookside Road in Lower Macungie Township, is a financial institution focused on sustainability with a mission to “provide trusted financing for upgrades that make homes and buildings efficient, safe, healthy and comfortable–and our leadership and staff are focused on completing that mission pragmatically,” according to the organization’s website.
In addition to loaning money to municipalities, the agency also works with homeowners.
To build the program, officials blended energy efficiency and conservation block grant funds with the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund, officials said.
Both were formula funds from the Department of Energy under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
Loan applicants must submit a level two commercial energy audit and project design, both of which can be paid for by a MORE Grant, according to the release.
A MORE Grant also has the potential to buy down a MORE Loan’s interest rate to as low as 0%.
To apply for a MORE Loan, go to the NEIF’s website.
