Florida's Government is Seeing Green

August 12, 2009

In our March feature article, Stimulus Plan: What’s in it for Green, we covered the big picture with national highlights from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This month, we’ve been snooping around to see what Florida’s plans are for its share of green stimulus money.

According to the Florida Recovery website, the state is to receive $168 million to “go green.” These funds are targeted for projects that reduce fossil fuel emissions within the jurisdictions of eligible entities (i.e. cities, townships), reducing total energy use and improving energy efficiency in the transportation and building sectors.

This $168 million allocation was signed into law in 2007 under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG), however, no funds were associated with the grant at that time. So Florida is finally receiving funds as a part of the ARRA. The money will be allocated as follows:

• $74 million to 17 counties;
• $64 million to 69 cities;
• $243,000 to two tribal governments; and
• $30 million to the Governor’s Energy Office.

Note that $18 million (or 60%) of the Energy Office’s $30 million will be allocated to smaller cities and counties ineligible for direct formula grants.

• Clearwater was granted $1,075,400 of the EECBG Grant, which it will use to upgrade energy efficiency in several city buildings.

• Tampa was granted $3,712,100. Tampa will use the funds to switch out traffic signals to LED lighting, to upgrade energy efficiency in two city buildings and to upgrade lighting in municipal parking lots.

• St Petersburg was granted $2,380,400. Unlike Clearwater and Tampa, the information as to how these funds will be used is not readily available to the public on the city’s website.

In addition to the $168 million Florida is receiving for the EECBG grant, it is also the recipient $126 million for the State Energy Program, which will fund investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy for households, businesses and schools. Detailed information on SEP funding is not yet available.

On the Florida Recovery website you can find a number of environmental projects under the category “Infrastructure.”To date, the following money has been allocated for environmentally related infrastructure projects:

• $132.2 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. This is a low-interest loan program for local government wastewater and stormwater projects. Locally, Bradenton is the big winner with $6,321,000 in loans.
• $88 million from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. This is also a low-interest loan. Both Oldsmar and Tampa are eligible for $3 million each.
• $1.7 million for Diesel Emission Reduction Grant. Some of the funds will be used to purchase and install diesel oxidation catalyst retrofits for school busses; other funds will be used at truck stops to reduce diesel emissions from truck idling. Some will be issued in the form of rebates for the installation of auxiliary power units in trucks – for example, Clearwater hopes to receive funds to help offset the purchase price of a hybrid garbage truck.

All Stimulus money must be designated to a specific project by September 30, 2010.