Spending on efficiency rises in Texas

Millions of dollars in energy efficiency stimulus funds were recently awarded to public entities throughout Texas and millions more are on the way. Texas fared very well in the federal allocation process.

Governmental entities will soon issue bids for energy-related contract work, but the time to contact decision-makers and get positioned to win the business is now. There will be varied types of opportunities and many will be focused on alternative fuel, traffic signalization, building efficiency and retrofits and solar panels.

Sixteen public entities (15 Texas cities and one county) were selected to receive a total of $6 million for traffic signal projects. This funding will be used by local governments to create or upgrade systems.

An additional 14 entities were selected for $11 million in funding to promote alternative fuel use. The money will be spent to convert conventional fleets and to install alternative refueling stations.

The Comptroller’s State Energy Conservation Office (SECO), which administers the traffic signal and alternative fuel programs, is notifying awardees who will receive $52 million from the Distributed Renewable Energy Technology Program. (To view the recently awarded first-round of these grants totaling $32 million, go to www.spartnerships.com and look under “Recent Reports.”)

Read the full post in the San Antonio Business Journal.