Port gets $15M to aid energy retrofits

BY DAVID PATCH
BLADE STAFF WRITER

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The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority has received a $15 million federal grant to seed an energy-efficiency retrofit program for homes and businesses in Toledo, Lucas County, and eventually a broad area of northwest Ohio, the agency and other public officials announced yesterday.

The federal funds are to be used to back up to $50 million in port authority debt that will support the Advanced Energy Utility's campaign to promote energy efficiency and nontraditional "green" energy technologies in the region, a port authority statement said.

Owners of properties upgraded must agree to repay the money through special assessments, but it is expected that those assessments would offset cost reductions for electricity and climate control those property owners would enjoy, said Carla Firestone, the port authority's spokesman.

Exactly how participants will be chosen remains to be "fleshed out," as does the repayment mechanism, she said.

The $15 million U.S. Department of Energy grant was announced during a ceremony yesterday in Washington at which Vice President Joe Biden presided and which was attended by Paul Toth, the port authority's president, and Toledo Mayor Mike Bell. It was one of two grants awarded to Ohio communities; Cincinnati received $17 million.

The port authority said the Advanced Energy Utility will oversee the investment of more than $300 million in "energy efficiency and alternative-energy improvements" for residential, commercial, industrial, and government buildings during the next three years.

The program is expected to create jobs for energy audits in selected buildings and engineering design and construction for energy-related improvements.

A statement from Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's office said public and commercial buildings would be the program's primary targets.

Potential improvements include energy-efficient windows and doors, insulation, modern lighting, geothermal heating and cooling systems, and improved climate-control devices, the agency said.

The program's initial focus is to be in Toledo, but later it will include all of Lucas County and 27 other Ohio counties in which the port authority offers economic-development financing.

The grant awarded to the port authority was part of $452 million the energy department will distribute nationwide.

Contact David Patch at:

dpatch@theblade.com

or 419-724-6094.

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