City, county getting $11M in green stimulus funds

Two U.S. cabinet secretaries visited a campus of the Allegheny County Community College yesterday, showcasing green technology funding authorized as part of the federal government's economic stimulus package.

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Energy Secretary Steven Chu got a tour of CCAC training facilities for welding and heating and air conditioning at the school's West Hills Center in Oakdale on a day the Obama administration announced the release of $3.2 billion nationwide for energy efficiency and conservation projects. Allegheny County is in line for $8.1 million, and the City of Pittsburgh will receive $3.4 million from that allocation.

"Look around, all of this is green jobs," Ms. Solis said after the tour, which emphasized a variety of skills needed for energy efficiency projects and construction.

County Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl were among the local officials welcoming the two secretaries. Also on hand were Reps. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, and Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair.

Mr. Onorato said that the county was poised to put the funds to use quickly and would act soon to identify specific projects for the funding. Mr. Ravenstahl cited a variety of lighting and weatherization projects the city has already undertaken and said that his administration had a list of similar projects that would more than absorb the special funding.

In contrast to some of the funding streams in other parts of the massive spending bill, those energy grants go directly to counties and cites, rather than being allocated by the state or federal government.

"That allows us to be creative," Mr. Onorato said.

Mr. Ravenstahl and Mr. Onorato said that, in keeping with the accountability mandates of the stimulus measure, they planned to post details of the city and county's specific spending on the Internet.

The city and county allocations are part of $102 million in energy and conservation block grants to be distributed statewide. Grants to other regional governments include: Washington County, $1,924,400; Westmoreland County, $3,006,500; and Penn Hills, $181,400.

Mr. Onorato pointed out that beyond the block grants spotlighted yesterday, the administration's energy proposals envision a round of competitive grants for conservation and other efforts to reduce fossil fuel use. Mr. Onorato said that he, Mr. Ravenstahl and other local officials planned to work with Mr. Doyle to craft a regional blueprint in hopes of attracting additional federal funds.