Department of Energy

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 established the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. The block grant program was not funded in 2007. The ARRA incorporated the EECBG and provided $3.2 billion in funding for this program. South Carolina is slated to receive $41 million in formula allocations through the EECBG with $29 million slated for entitlement entities. Columbia is one of 10 entitlement entities in South Carolina. If the $29 million is divided equally, then Columbia could possibly receive in excess of $2 million. These funds must be used for reducing energy use and fossil fuel emissions and improving energy efficiency.

The City of Columbia is looking to fund all or part of its Energy Audit. The priority in the audit is a Lighting/Lighting Controls project, expected to deliver the quickest return on the investment and create a significant number of jobs. The lighting system improvements would provide the City with a high quality visual environment that is energy efficient, low maintenance and cost effective. While the lighting project is the best use of formula dollars, a project noted in the FY 2010 Appropriations Requests would be pursued if a competitive program is announced through the EECBG or the State Energy Office. This project is the City of Columbia/ University of South Carolina Solar Energy Demonstration Project to install solar panels on USC Innovista parking garages.

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