The Obama Administration just announced an additional $25,382,500 for local energy efficiency improvements in Kentucky. The funds will come in the form of block grants to support jobs, cut energy bills and increase energy independence. This is in addition to the $123.4 million in funding announced on March 12th.

“These investments will save taxpayer dollars and create jobs in communities around the country,” said Vice President Biden. “Local leaders will have the flexibility in how they put these resources to work – but we will hold them accountable for making the investments quickly and wisely to spur the local economy and cut energy use.”

From a press release:

The funding will support energy audits and energy efficiency retrofits in residential and commercial buildings, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements. Other activities eligible for use of grant funds include transportation programs that conserve energy, projects to reduce and capture methane and other greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, renewable energy installations on government buildings, energy efficient traffic signals and street lights, deployment of Combined Heat and Power and district heating and cooling systems, and others.

To ensure accountability, the Department of Energy will require grant recipients to report on the number of jobs created or retained, energy saved, renewable energy capacity installed, greenhouse gas emissions reduced and funds leveraged. Funding is based on a formula that accounts for population and energy use.

Funding for state, city, and county governments in the state:

• Kentucky – State Energy Office – $10,427,000
• Bowling Green – City – $585,600
• Covington – City – $188,500
• Florence – City – $126,400
• Frankfort – City – $132,100
• Henderson – City – $123,100
• Hopkinsville – City – $143,600
• Lexington-Fayette – City – $2,753,800
• Louisville/Jefferson – City – $7,000,000
• Owensboro – City – $557,200
• Richmond – City – $145,600
• Boone – County – $368,100
• Bullitt – County – $289,900
• Campbell – County – $351,600
• Hardin – County – $426,500
• Kenton – County – $465,200
• Laurel – County – $246,000
• McCracken – County – $289,900
• Oldham – County – $222,200
• Pike – County – $282,800
• Pulaski – County – $257,000

For more information on the grants, click here.

This is kind of a big deal.