MONTGOMERY— Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded $2.8 million to help Alabama’s low-income and elderly residents reduce their utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient.
The Alabama Weatherization Assistance Program gives priority to those with disabilities, the elderly and low-income households with children. Homes that qualify for assistance are modified to improve both energy efficiency and safety.
“High home energy bills can present a difficult challenge for Alabamians with very limited resources,” Bentley said. “The goal of our weatherization program is to make energy costs more manageable for our most vulnerable residents, especially the elderly and disabled.”
For each home qualifying for weatherization services, an energy audit is conducted to determine the most cost-efficient measures. Common improvements include installing extra insulation in the attic, walls and floor; sealing air leaks around doors and windows; repairs or tune-ups for air conditioning and heating units; and replacing incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency compact fluorescents. In addition to lowering energy bills, improvements can reduce the risk of fire and other hazards.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the program from funds made available by
the U.S. Department of Energy.
Bentley awarded the grants to 16 community agencies across the state that administer the program at the local level and receive applications from individuals who wish to be considered for assistance.
Below is a list of each amount awarded, the name of the recipient agency, counties served and telephone number:
• $98,689 to Alabama Council on Human Relations Inc. (Lee) 334-821-8336
• $77, 141 to Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission (Macon, Montgomery and Russell) 334-262-4300
• $62,179 to Community Action Committee Inc. of Chambers-Tallapoosa-Coosa (Chambers, Coosa and Tallapoosa) 256-825-4287
• $193,868 to Elmore-Autauga Community Action Committee (Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Elmore, Perry and Shelby) 334-567-4361
• $61,825 to Community Action of Etowah County (Etowah) 256-546-9271
• $154,858 to Community Action Partnership of Huntsville-Madison and Limestone Counties (Madison and Limestone) 256-851-9803
• $367,668 to Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity (Jefferson) 205-327-7550
• $284,043 to Mobile Community Action Inc. (Choctaw, Mobile and Washington) 251-457-5700
• $159,168 to Montgomery County Commission (Montgomery) 334-262-4300
• $218,380 to Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Inc. (Cullman, Lawrence, Marion, Morgan, Walker and Winston) 256-355-7843
• $233,975 to Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama Inc. (Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall and St. Clair) 256-638-4430
• $99,352 to Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Inc. (Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale) 256-766-4330
• $276,214 to Organized Community Action Program Inc. (Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes and Pike) 334-566-1712
• $202,487 to Community Action Agency of South Alabama (Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox) 251-626-2649
• $161,132 to Community Action Agency of Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun and Cleburne (Calhoun, Clay, Cleburne, Randolph and Talladega) 256-362-6611
• $218,178 to Community Service Programs of West Alabama Inc. (Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa) 205-752-5429
