York County towns win $500K grant for energy efficiency
Deborah Mcdermott writes in the York Weekly about a federal grant awarded to a consortium of six towns, including York. The grant will benefit both individuals and businesses.
Homeowners and small business owners in southern York County will soon be able to apply for a low-interest loan to make their buildings more energy efficient, thanks to the success of local residents who have secured a $500,000 federal stimulus grant.
The Seacoast Energy Initiative learned Friday, Feb. 12 the Maine Public Utilities Commission selected its proposal to receive the federal funds. The PUC is the state agency administering the grants.
The SEI towns that are included in the proposal are Kittery, Eliot, York, South Berwick, Ogunquit and North Berwick. The SEI members comprise each town’s energy committees.
It is anticipated that, if there are no glitches, the first loans will be approved in six months.
The program establishes a revolving loan fund of $410,000. Any homeowner or small-business person can qualify for the loans, regardless of income. This is important for the southern York County area, where most people make too much money to qualify for low-income programs.
The loans will be for no more than $10,000, at an interest rate of 3 percent.
Building improvements expected to be covered by the loan include weatherization work and upgrades to all electrical, air and fuel systems.
The loans will be administered by the Biddeford Saco Area Economic Development Corporation, a nonprofit agency with experience running revolving loan funds.
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April 25th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
The effects of Global Warming is getting much stronger these days. We should concentrate more on alternative energy to reduce carbon emissions.
May 1st, 2010 at 12:07 am
Every government should focus more on Alternative Energy so as not to be too dependent on Oil and avoid air pollution as well.’:;