Gov. Jim Doyle announced Monday that Wisconsin has been approved for $28 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act federal funds for its State Energy Program. The money is the first part of the $55 million in federal stimulus act funding the state is receiving under this program.
“With these funds, Wisconsin can work with state businesses and take a leadership role in clean energy manufacturing and create good jobs,” Doyle said. “Wisconsin is the only state to target its SEP funds exclusively to manufacturing. Wisconsin has a larger percentage of employees in manufacturing than any other state, and we can leverage our innovative, high-skilled workforce to create clean energy products and processes.”
The Department of Commerce (Commerce) will administer the program. Eligible activities will include:
• Reducing fossil fuel use in manufacturing by deploying renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies;
• Retooling Wisconsin businesses to enable them to produce components of renewable energy systems and energy efficient products; and
• Investing in renewable energy projects.
Projects must create or retain jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce fossil fuel use, and/or deploy renewable energy.
Applications and program information will be available at the Commerce website: http://commerce.wi.us/BD/BD-SEP-ARRA.html.
For more information on the SEP, contact Amy Cumblad at Commerce, amy.cumblad@wisconsin.gov; or David Jenkins at the Office of Energy Independence, davidj.jenkins@wisconsin.gov.
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