October 22, 2004

MPSC Approves $8 million in Low-income Energy Efficiency Grants

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) today issued an order approving $8 million in low-income energy efficiency grants to eight organizations.

“These grants will help reduce energy costs for low-income people just as we enter another heating season,” said MPSC Chair J. Peter Lark.  ”The improvements made as a result of these grants will help reduce energy costs for years to come.”

The Commission on September 17 issued a request for proposals for low-income energy efficiency grants. Proposals were due by October 8. In awarding the grants, the Commission gave consideration to organizations with experience conducting low-income energy efficiency programs with existing administrative structure to handle distribution activities and to organizations capable of offering services statewide. Based on its review, the MPSC awarded the following grants:

• Family Independence Agency - $4,240,000 for a statewide partnership program with Community Action/Weatherization network to assist low-income households to become energy self-sufficient through energy efficiency upgrades and education.

• Habitat for Humanity - $175,000 for energy efficiency upgrades in homes projected to be constructed under the Habitat for Humanity program.

• Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribal Government - $10,000 for purchase and instillation of energy efficient upgrades for tribal owned low-income housing occupied by tribal and non-tribal members.

• M-Tec - $500,000 for the development and implementation of a revolving loan fund for local housing commissions for purchase and installation of energy efficient upgrades for low-income housing facilities.

• METRO Neighborhood Housing & Community Development - $1.7 million for improving the energy efficiency of urban homes located in 15 statewide communities by providing energy audits, efficiency upgrades, and energy efficiency training of all participants in the program.

• Nonprofit Facilities Center - $825,000 for energy efficiency programs directed at non-profit organizations that provide facilities to the many types of low-income persons who do not or cannot own their own homes in the Detroit tri-county area.

• Nova Development Group - $300,000 for energy efficiency audits, upgrades and installations for low-income, multi-family dwellings throughout Michigan.

• Warm Training Center - $250,000 for programs of energy education through workshops and home visits to clients referred by agencies located in the city of Detroit.

These grants are part of the Low-Income and Energy Efficiency Fund originally established as part of the Customer Choice and Electricity Reliability Act of 2000 (Public Act 141). The purpose of the fund is to provide shut-off and other protections for low-income customers and to promote energy efficiency by all customer classes. The grants announced today are the latest grants made under this program.

The MPSC is an agency within the Department of Labor & Economic Growth.

Case No. U-13129

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