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NEWS RELEASE

December 11, 2009

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Howard County Receives Energy Block Grant

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Ken Ulman is pleased to announce that the County has received over $2.6 million in stimulus grant funds as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) Program. Funded for the first time by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the EECBG Program represents a Presidential priority to deploy the cheapest, cleanest and most reliable energy technologies we have across the country. The County submitted its application to the Department of Energy for this formula based grant back in June of this year and is now receiving the award.

"Over the last few years, Howard County has become a leader in the region on energy issues including energy efficiency and renewable energy. The projects funded through this program are all fundamental pieces in our continuing efforts to save taxpayer money and reduce our carbon footprint," said County Executive Ken Ulman.

With the help of the grant, the County plans to implement the following projects:

• Establish a home energy audit program that will enable Howard County to offer free comprehensive home energy audits for residents
• Purchase energy efficient ballfield lights which will allow the County’s energy consumption to decrease by approximately 50,636 kWh per year; this is a 27% increase in energy efficiency and a cost savings of $430,000 over the life span of the light fixtures
• Purchase high efficiency lighting for the County’s Department of Recreation & Parks indoor facilities; these fixtures will decrease energy consumption by 59,562 kWh per year and represent a total amount in yearly energy cost savings of $16,767
• Purchase electrical sub-meters for all county owned facilities to monitor and track energy consumption so we may detect anomalies and opportunities for further energy usage reductions
• Purchase an electric pickup truck for on-site use at Alpha Ridge Landfill; this truck is estimated to save the County over 300 gallons of gas per year and an estimated 31.1 tons of CO2 over the lifespan of the vehicle
• Purchase a forced draft heater for the Landfill; by replacing the consumption of 6,000 gallons annually of heating oil with landfill gas, Howard County will save approximately $18,000 annually
• Purchase a diesel hybrid truck that will equate to more than 775 gallons of fuel annually and a reduction of about 17,248 pounds of CO2 and other greenhouse pollutant emissions
• Hire an Energy Management Consultant

The Program, authorized in Title V, Subtitle E of the Energy Independence and Security Act, was signed into law on December 19, 2007 and is modeled after the Community Development Block Grant Program administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). EECBG is intended to assist U.S. cities, counties, states, territories and Indian tribes to develop, promote, implement, and manage energy efficiency and conservation projects and programs. The purpose of this award is to implement the recipient’s Energy Efficiency & Conservation Strategy (EEC&S) in order to:

• Reduce fossil fuel emissions;
• Reduce total energy use of the eligible entities; and
• Improve energy efficiency in the building sector, the transportation sector and other appropriate sectors, along with creating jobs.

Funding for the EECBG Program under the Recovery Act totals $3.2 billion; of this amount, approximately $2.7 billion will be awarded through formula grants.