MARCH 8, 2002 - Director Kathleen M. Wilbur announced today that the Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services (CIS) Energy Office has awarded a $25,000 matching grant to Washtenaw County to launch a Rebuild Michigan program in its area. 

Rebuild Michigan, part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Rebuild America program, is designed to promote increased energy efficiency in communities.  The grant will be used to develop a 2-5 year energy action plan and to organize a coalition that will work toward fulfilling community energy goals.  Coalition members may include local governments, schools, universities, businesses and other interested groups.  The community will also identify energy efficiency opportunities in their commercial, institutional, and/or multi-family buildings and install improvements that will yield the highest energy and cost savings.

“This program focuses on community-based energy planning to ensure that local needs are met and a sustained local effort is established,” said Wilbur.  “This community-based effort also helps ensure that local products and resources are utilized to the fullest extent possible.”

Rebuild programs have been launched throughout the United States to address the billions of dollars lost each year due to inefficient and outdated building energy technologies.  Additionally, generating electricity is one of the most significant sources of environmental pollution.  Rebuild Michigan strives to increase energy savings and reduce energy demand and emissions through increased energy efficiency and use of renewable energy.  

The grant is administered through the CIS Energy Office, which promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy resource development to Michigan’s residents, businesses and public institutions.  The Rebuild Michigan program receives its primary funding from the U.S. Department of Energy.

For additional information, please contact the State program coordinator: Kelly Launder at 517.241.6223 or the Washtenaw County project coordinator: Rebecca Head at 734.994.6361.  Information on Rebuild Michigan is also available on the CIS Energy Office website.

Read More Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services press releases.