MONTGOMERY— Grants totaling $950,000 awarded by Gov. Robert Bentley will help Alabama’s low-income and elderly residents reduce their utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient.
The Alabama Weatherization Assistance Program gives priority to those with disabilities, the elderly and low-income households with children. Homes that qualify for assistance are repaired or updated to improve both energy efficiency and safety.
“High utility bills present a challenge for Alabamians living on extremely limited incomes,” Bentley said. “This program helps Alabama’s most vulnerable residents make their homes more energy efficiency and makes energy costs more manageable.”
For each home qualifying for weatherization services, an energy audit is conducted to determine the most cost-efficient measures. Common improvements include installing extra insulation in the attic, walls and floor; sealing air leaks around doors and windows; repairs or tune-ups for air conditioning and heating units; and replacing incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency compact fluorescents. In addition to lowering energy bills, improvements can reduce the risk of fire and other hazards.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the program from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Bentley awarded grants to 16 community agencies across the state that administer the program at the local level and receive applications from individuals who wish to be considered for assistance.
Below is a list of each amount awarded, the name of the recipient agency, counties served and telephone number:
• $16,846 to Alabama Council on Human Relations Inc. (Lee) 334-821-8336
• $33,865 to Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission (Macon, Montgomery and Russell) 334-262-4300
• $24,956 to Community Action Committee Inc. of Chambers-Tallapoosa-Coosa (Chambers, Coosa and Tallapoosa) 256-825-4287
• $67,199 to Community Action Agency of Central Alabama (Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Elmore, Perry and Shelby) 334-567-4361
• $25,094 to Community Action of Etowah County (Etowah) 256-546-9271
• $50,743 to Community Action Partnership of Huntsville-Madison and Limestone Counties (Madison and Limestone) 256-851-9803
• $118,206 to Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity (Jefferson) 205-327-7550
• $92,732 to Mobile Community Action Inc. (Choctaw, Mobile and Washington) 251-457-5700
• $50,466 to Montgomery County Commission (Montgomery) 334-262-4300
• $67,469 to Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Inc. (Cullman, Lawrence, Marion, Morgan, Walker and Winston) 256-355-7843
• $67,556 to Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama Inc. (Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall and St. Clair) 256-638-4430
• $33,709 to Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Inc. (Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale) 256-766-4330
• $100,186 to Organized Community Action Program Inc. (Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes and Pike) 334-566-1712
• $67,032 to Community Action Agency of South Alabama (Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox) 251-626-2649
• $58,716 to Community Action Agency of Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun and Cleburne (Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph and Talladega) 256-362-6611
• $75,225 to Community Service Programs of West Alabama Inc. (Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa) 205-758-4756
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Contact: Russell Sellers, Mike Presley