Woonsocket Radio News Room

 Governor McKee, Congressional Delegation, and Office of Energy Resources Award Municipalities $2.75 Million from Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Program

PROVIDENCE, RI – Governor Dan McKee, Rhode Island's Congressional Delegation, and the Office of Energy Resources have awarded $2.75 million from the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, with $1.5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and $1.25 million from the state’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative program.  



The federal and state funds awarded to municipalities through the EECBG Program are utilized to support carbon emission reductions, reduce long-term energy use, and improve the efficiency of municipal properties. 

“The Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Program demonstrates our continuous effort to invest in Rhode Island cities and towns,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Thank you to the Congressional Delegation for your continued support in securing these funds for Rhode Island. These energy-efficient upgrades not only enhance our municipalities but also bring us closer to a more resilient future.”

“This federal energy efficiency funding will help the state and local communities save money on their energy bills and reduce emissions,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed. “I voted to make this funding possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support sustainable clean energy initiatives." 

“I was glad to help secure federal funding in the landmark Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to allow cities and towns across the Ocean State to invest in energy-efficient and climate-resilient retrofits,” said U.S. Senator Whitehouse, a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. “Well done to the Office of Energy Resources and the cities and towns taking action to reduce energy use and emissions, increase cost savings for taxpayers, and make progress toward our state’s climate goals.”

“Reducing energy use saves money for Rhode Islanders while helping our state meet our climate goals,” said Representative Seth Magaziner. “It is exciting to see municipalities provide relief for taxpayers by becoming more energy efficient.”

“I am excited that the federal investment we are announcing today will help our Ocean State communities reduce costs and carbon emissions,” said Representative Gabe Amo, a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. “I am eager to see these funds put to good use in every community across our state to bolster the energy efficiency of municipal operations and grow our clean energy economy.” 

“We have been able to fund multiple energy projects through the EECBG Program and look forward to continuing this work with municipalities,” said Acting Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources Commissioner Chris Kearns. “This initiative is an important step in reducing carbon emissions, reducing municipalities long-term energy costs, and advancing our Act on Climate objectives.”

Every municipality is eligible to receive funding through the EECBG program. Federal guidelines have determined the amount of federal funds each community will receive. These exact dollar amounts may be viewed on the OER website: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) | Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (ri.gov). 

Of the 39 municipalities in Rhode Island, 10 will be receiving their federal funds directly from the U.S. Department of Energy and did not need to apply to this program via OER. All municipalities are eligible for the supplemental RGGI funding allocated by OER.

The 10 communities receiving funds directly are Coventry, Cranston, Cumberland, East Providence, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, and Woonsocket.

Of the 29 communities receiving federal funding directly from OER, 25 of them have been awarded and are proceeding with implementation. Funds need to be spent by the end of calendar 2025 and communities are pursuing a number of different projects with their allocations, including:

·     High-efficiency LED lighting 

·     Weatherization, insulation, and other building envelope improvements 

·     High-efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment 

·     Air source heat pumps for heating and cooling 

·     High-efficiency window and door replacements 

·     Building control systems to improve the efficiency and operation of HVAC equipment 

·     Geothermal heating and cooling system

·     Community energy planning and project implementation support

Each of these projects will improve the efficiency, comfort, and operation of key municipal facilities and support carbon emission reductions and energy savings across Rhode Island.