For the City-Times

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind on Tuesday said he welcomed the news that Wisconsin is receiving a $475,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) State Energy Program.

The competitively- awarded grant is for projects whose goal is to increase statewide energy savings and boost the energy efficiency of public institutions, local governments and industrial sectors.

“This grant will help support a forward-looking approach aimed at promoting energy efficiency and helping communities reduce energy waste,” Kind said in a statement. “These investments will protect the environment, save taxpayer dollars and help Wisconsin continue to lead the way in smart, innovative renewable energy solutions and innovations.”

Wisconsin’s award is part of nearly $4 million in grants to 13 states aimed at increasing statewide energy savings and boosting energy efficiency. The $475K grant falls into two categories- one will attempt to remove regulatory, market and utility barriers to industrial energy efficiency accounting for $75,000 of the federal funding.

The other project will focus on retrofitting public housing as well as local government and state facilities, including the installation of low-wattage LED lighting and an upgrade to existing heating and cooling systems, accounting for $400,000 in grant funding.

The DOE’s State Energy Program provides support through formula and competitive grants, assisting states in saving energy and harnessing clean energy technologies. States use the grants to increase technology use, build partnerships, and facilitate energy-related emergency preparedness.