FEBRUARY 23, 2006 – Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) Acting Director Robert W. Swanson announced today that city of Ecorse was awarded an $18,309 grant to begin a Rebuild Michigan Community Partnership that promotes energy efficiency in commercial buildings and generation and use of renewable energy in the community.  Rebuild Michigan is part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Rebuild America program.

“Millions of dollars are lost each year in Michigan due to inefficient and outdated building energy technologies. Additionally, generating electricity from fossil fuels is a significant source of environmental pollution,” Swanson said. “Rebuild Michigan increases energy efficiency, reduces demand for energy and decreases harmful emissions.” 

The grant will be used to organize a representative community coalition, initiate local energy planning, identify resources for conducting commercial energy audits and implementing energy efficiency projects, develop a 2-5 year action plan, and assess potential for developing renewable energy projects.

“Rebuild Michigan also promotes investment in the generation and use of clean, renewable energy.   We encourage the use of local materials and labor, whenever possible, to reach these goals,” Swanson said.   

Funding for the grants was made available by the U.S. Department of Energy and is administered by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) Energy Office www.michigan.gov/energyoffice.

For additional information, please contact Nicole Allard, Planning Department Manager, City of Ecorse at (313) 386-2344 or Tom Krupiarz, Grant Administrator, Michigan Energy Office at (517) 241-6184 or takrupi@michigan.gov.