MONTGOMERY-Governor Robert Bentley has awarded $1.66 million to help Alabama’s low-income residents cut their utility bills by making their homes more energy efficient.
The Alabama Weatherization Assistance Program gives priority consideration to the elderly, those with disabilities and to low-income residents with children. Houses that qualify for assistance are modified to improve both energy efficiency and safety.
“Taking a few steps to make a home more energy efficient can significantly reduce the monthly utility bill,” Bentley said. “The savings can make a big difference for a struggling family on a small fixed income, leaving more money for other essential expenses like food and medicine.”
To identify the most cost-effective measures for each home, an energy audit is performed. Depending on the results, a home 
weatherization project may include adding extra insulation to the attic, walls and floors; sealing leaks in ductwork; repairing and tuning heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems; and replacing incandescent lights with highly efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.
The funding was provided to the state by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is distributing the money to 16 regional agencies that provide local management for the weatherization program. Applications for weatherization services should be made to those agencies.
Below is a list of grants awarded, the counties served by each recipient agency and a local telephone number for applicants:
• $153,657 to Mobile Community Action Inc. (Mobile, Choctaw and Washington) 251-457-5700
• $113,312 to Community Action Agency of South Alabama Inc. (Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox) 251-626-2646
• $146,174 to Organized Community Action Program Inc. (Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lowndes and Pike) 334-566-1712
• $65,344 to Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission (Lee, Macon and Russell) 334-262-4300
• $98,450 to Montgomery County Commission (Montgomery) 334-262-4300
• $113,381 to Community Action Agency of Central Alabama Inc. (Autauga, Chilton, Dallas, Elmore, Perry and Shelby) 334-567-4361 Ext. 123
• $127,718 to Community Services Program of West Alabama (Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens, Tuscaloosa and Sumter) 205-752-5429
• $33,069 to Alabama Council on Human Relations (Lee) 334-821-8336
• $41,932 to Community Action Committee of Chambers-Tallapoosa-Coosa (Chambers, Coosa and Tallapoosa) 256-825-4287
• $197,712 to Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity (Jefferson) 205-327-7550
• $104,741 to Community Action Agency of Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun and Cleburne Counties (Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun and Cleburne) 256-362-6611
• $41,606 to Community Action of Etowah County Inc. (Etowah) 256-546-9271
• $133,407 Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama Inc. (Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall and St. Clair) 256-638-4430
• $121,575 to Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Inc. (Cullman, Lawrence, Marion, Morgan, Walker and Winston) 256-355-7843
• $103,719 to Community Action Partnership of Huntsville/Madison and Limestone Counties Inc. (Madison and Limestone) 256-851-9800
• $59,293 to Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Inc. (Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale) 256-766-4330
MEDIA RELEASE/OFFICE OF ALABAMA GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY/ CONTACT JIM PLOTT OR LARRY CHILDERS
