March 17, 2010 - Groveland Twp.- Life will be just a little more green for some township residents thanks to a grant awarded earlier this year.

Governor Jennifer Granholm announced in late January that the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth (DELEG) has awarded $17.4 million in grants to 125 cities, villages, townships, and counties throughout Michigan to support local energy efficiency projects.

The state Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) are funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act).

Locally the township received $53,700 to purchase 512 energy kits that will be distributed on April 18 to residents on a first-come-first serve basis.

The energy kits produced by Michigan GREEN should save residents about $100 per year, and maybe closer to $150 for some homeowners, said Doug Russell, Executive Director Michigan GREEN Executive Committee Member.

"Residents get the direct benefit from these kits," said Russell. "So far more than 12,000 energy kits have been distributed across the state, saving 1,000 pounds of pollution annually."

The kits will include such items as 1.5 GPM (gallon per minute) Earth Massage Showerheads, four-13 Watt CFLs (60W incandescent equivalent) lights, switch plates and outlet sealers.

"I was trying to find a way to find some stimulus money for the township," said DePalma. "This was competitive grant that Russell helped us get for the township."

The energy grant marks the second disbursement of federal stimulus funds for the township.

Last fall the Road Commission for Oakland County reported that some of the more than $70 million earmarked for roadwork in the county will be used in the township.

At an estimated cost of $750,000, a 4.09 mile segment of Grange Hall Road from Dixie Highway to Jossman Road will be resurfaced with one and one-half inches of asphalt in June 2010. The road shoulder will be expanded to three feet in many locations, and gravel added.

The road project should take about two weeks to complete, and could start in late June as soon as the school year is complete, said Sintkowski.

Oakland County officials say that about $50 million in stimulus money has been earmarked for road projects in the county since the projects were announced last year.

President Barack Obama inked a $787 billion stimulus plan in early 2009 designed to revive the economy and save millions of jobs.

 

David Fleet
Author