Explanation
BACKGROUND: Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the City of Columbus was awarded $7,403,500 from the U.S. Department of Energy as a formula allocation of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). Funds are being used to develop, promote, implement and manage programs designed to reduce fossil fuel emissions, reduce total energy usage, improve energy efficiency, and create and retain jobs. The City of Columbus planned to address these goals with the following activities:
· A revolving loan fund for use by businesses for energy efficiency retrofits
· Bike infrastructure improvements
· Energy efficient retrofit for the central safety building
· Energy efficient lighting at Columbus fire stations
· Participate with the State of Ohio to retrofit the Center of Science and Industry
· Retrofit the Cultural Arts Center with energy efficient lighting
· Retrofit the city's pedestrian signal heads with energy efficient LED technology
· Retrofit homes for low-income households in the Columbus area with energy efficient lighting and appliances.
Ordinance 0868-2009 authorized the city to apply for and accept the grant. Ordinances 1511-2009 and 0148-2010 authorized appropriations in various divisions and object levels.
The planned use of the EECBG funds for a revolving loan fund activity was established and promoted by the Development Department, unfortunately no applications were received. It is a requirement that federal funds be spent in a timely manner so it has been determined that additional funding will benefit the Central Safety Building energy retrofits, and will allow up to six more fire station high-energy lighting retrofit projects. Funds previously identified as program administration for the revolving loan fund activity will be redirected to the grant administrative functions of the Department of Finance and Management. These changes in project budgets require adjustments in the a...
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