$70M in Home Weatherization Funds for Floridians
Florida will receive another $70 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help weatherize more than 19,000 homes in the state.
Florida is picking up 40 percent of its total weatherization funding following approval of a comprehensive state plan, according to federal officials. It adds to the initial 10 percent funding allocation previously awarded to Florida for training and ramp-up activities.
Once the state can prove that it can implement the full plan, Florida will receive another $87 million, bringing its total contribution to $175 million.
The weatherization project not only will cover single-family homes, but some multifamily homes as well — a section of the industry usually left out of such packages. Priority for multifamily weatherization will go to the elderly, people with disabilities and families with children younger than 12 years old.
The weatherization is meant to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while lowering energy costs for low-income families. It will be available to families making up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $44,000 a year for a family of four.
Overall, the federal government is awarding $453 million to 15 states, and in Florida would equate to about $3,700 per home on average. States will eventually spend an average of $6,500 to weatherize homes.
Source: Jacksonville Business Journal
Florida is picking up 40 percent of its total weatherization funding following approval of a comprehensive state plan, according to federal officials. It adds to the initial 10 percent funding allocation previously awarded to Florida for training and ramp-up activities.
Once the state can prove that it can implement the full plan, Florida will receive another $87 million, bringing its total contribution to $175 million.
The weatherization project not only will cover single-family homes, but some multifamily homes as well — a section of the industry usually left out of such packages. Priority for multifamily weatherization will go to the elderly, people with disabilities and families with children younger than 12 years old.
The weatherization is meant to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while lowering energy costs for low-income families. It will be available to families making up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $44,000 a year for a family of four.
Overall, the federal government is awarding $453 million to 15 states, and in Florida would equate to about $3,700 per home on average. States will eventually spend an average of $6,500 to weatherize homes.
Source: Jacksonville Business Journal