For Immediate Release: September 16, 2005
DBEDT Release News 05-28

Honolulu - DBEDT announced today Hawaii has been awarded almost $250,000 for two energy efficiency projects under a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) competitive grant program.

"Historically, we have been successful in obtaining funds for a variety of important energy projects," said DBEDT Director Theodore E. Liu.

In recent years, DBEDT's Strategic Industries Division (SID) has been successful in obtaining funding through this program, ranking among the top states in the State Energy Program Special Projects competitive grants. These special energy projects will help conserve energy, provide jobs, and increase Hawaii's energy security.

Hawaii has been awarded $100,000 for continuation of our Rebuild America Program and $149,986 for Codes and Standards. Both grants were awarded after a highly competitive national process for Special Projects under the State Energy Program administered by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Rebuild America grant was one of only 37 awarded this year and is the seventh consecutive grant awarded to the State of Hawaii in support of Rebuild America programs.

"Hawaii is one of only five states awarded seven Rebuild America grants and indicates the U.S. Department of Energy's recognition of Hawaii's leadership and achievement in contributions to this national program," Liu said.

The Codes and Standards grant, one of 19 grants selected, will be matched by over $95,000 from Pacific and Caribbean entities. Hawaii will serve in an international leadership role by working with Pacific and Caribbean entities to a) write a state of the art Model Tropical Code tailored to local conditions in the sponsoring organizations of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Hawaii, and b) promulgate the tailored codes to design professionals and decision-makers.

The Rebuild America grant will support Hawaii's goal of stimulating the productivity of our economy and strengthening our existing infrastructure by increasing the use of more energy efficient technologies through public/private community partnerships. The $100,000 grant with $92,450 cost share will sustain the vigorous growth of the Rebuild America program in Hawaii by continuing state program representative services and supporting Hawaii Rebuild America Partnership projects, and by providing direct technical assistance to Hawaii RBA Partnerships though a Rebuild Coordinator.

More information on the energy grants and other Hawaii energy efficiency projects may be obtained from Maurice Kaya at mkaya@dbedt.hawaii.gov or by calling (808) 587-3807.

For more information, contact:
Dave Young
Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov