Tribes get stimulus funds for energy efficiency
Federal stimulus funds are headed for some tribal communities in New Mexico to enhance energy efficiency and transportation infrastructure.
Five pueblos and San Juan County are expecting a total of more than $900,000 in energy efficiency grants through the Department of Energy, to be used for energy audits, building retrofits and financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements.
Cochiti Pueblo is being allocated $40,400. Isleta Pueblo is set to receive $112,000 and San Felipe Pueblo is in line for $102,200. Taos Pueblo is to get $61,400 and Zuni Pueblo expects to see $267,500. San Juan County is being allocated $329,400.
The U.S. Department of Transportation released $156,000 in stimulus funds to Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo to purchase one van and a bus. Approximately $200,000 is to go to Laguna Pueblo to purchase equipment for pre-engineering streets and for a portable building payday loans. The Navajo Nation is in line for $2.2 million to construct a bus maintenance facility and administration office complex in Fort Defiance.
U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall and U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, all Democrats, said the funds will help create jobs and advance energy independence in the state.
The funds come through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. Funding for this program under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act totals $3.2 billion, with about $2.7 billion being awarded through formula grants around the country. Another $400 million will be delivered through competitive grants.
Filed under: management by Wolf