Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Selected to Deliver Technical Assistance for Federal Energy Efficiency ARRA Grantees

PORTLAND, Ore., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, nearly $6.5 billion has been granted to states and communities across the U.S. for energy efficiency programs under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG), State Energy Program (SEP), and Retrofit Ramp-Up Initiative. The ARRA SEP and EECBG Technical Assistance Program has been developed to provide state and local officials access to a network of financial and technical experts for assistance with their energy efficiency policies and programs. The goal is to help eligible grantees develop and implement successful clean energy projects and programs that meet the conditions and guidelines of the Federal grant programs.

NEEA: A Regional Resource for Technical Assistance

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) has been selected to be a part of the Department of Energy's Recovery Act Technical Assistance provider network. As a member of the Technical Assistance network, NEEA is tasked with providing and coordinating resources and assistance to recipients of EECBG, SEP and Retrofit Ramp-up grants. Drawing on NEEA's well established working relationships with Northwest utilities and other energy efficiency providers, this support will help grantees develop programs that are in support of Federal initiatives, and designed to address long-term energy policy changes, environmental concerns, and the need to strengthen the economy and create jobs. In addition to working with local utilities and other regional experts, NEEA will facilitate the development and sharing of best practices, tools and resources from across the nation.

"Working with ARRA grant recipients is an effective way for NEEA to advance its mission by increasing market adoption of energy efficient products, services and business practices in the Northwest," said Claire Fulenwider, executive director at NEEA. "A top strategic goal of our 2010-2014 business plan is to facilitate the regional planning and implementation of energy efficiency initiatives in our region. We look forward to the opportunity to work together with Northwest utilities and other regional and national organizations on developing long-term, sustainable energy efficiency initiatives."

NEEA is partnering with the other organizations in the technical assistance network, consisting of non-profit organizations with a national footprint and a deep collective energy resume: Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (team lead), the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SEEP), the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), and the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA).

"NEEA is honored and pleased to be selected by the U.S. DOE with the other distinguished efficiency providers in the network, as a key resource for technical assistance in the Northwest," Fulenwider added. "This recognition of NEEA's role in the region and of our technical depth is a positive acknowledgement of the success of Northwest utilities in energy efficiency and collaborative partnership."

Have you Received ARRA Funding?

Has your organization received funding through ARRA SEP, EECBG, or the Retrofit Ramp-Up Initiative? If so, you are eligible for assistance in developing your programs. First, check out the Technical Assistance Center (TAC) Solution Center, an online portal where you can find best practices, project resources, and other valuable tools to assist you in the development and implementation of successful projects and programs. There you can also log-in to request technical assistance from NEEA and other technical assistance providers.

Find out More

You can also request technical assistance by clicking here, or calling 1-877-EERE-TAP (1-877-337-3827) to speak with a customer service representative who can assist you in submitting your request.

Have questions on how NEEA can help? Email us here.

About the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is a non-profit organization funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (representing approximately 130 public utilities), the Energy Trust of Oregon (working on behalf of Portland General Electric and Pacific Power) and the following 11 utilities: Avista Utilities, Clark Public Utilities, Cowlitz County PUD, Eugene Water & Electric Board, Idaho Power Company, NorthWestern Energy, PacifiCorp, Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light, Snohomish County PUD and Tacoma Power. We work in collaboration with our stakeholders and strategic market partners to accelerate the market adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices within homes, business and industry.  

SOURCE Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance