Changes to Pennsylvania's Weatherization Plan Open for Comment

News provided by

Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development

May 13, 2010, 01:28 ET

Public hearing to be held May 24

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The commonwealth is taking comments on proposed changes to its weatherization state plan and will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 24.

The commonwealth is proposing modifications to its federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA, and annual "regular" weatherization plans.

Proposed changes to the Recovery-funded plan include modifications to "first priority households" to better meet current conditions and to maximize the effectiveness of federal weatherization funds, and to transfer the City of New Castle's weatherization contract to Lawrence County Social Services, Inc.

Proposed changes to the annual weatherization plan authorize modifications to the current formula-based distribution of funds so DCED may redistribute money based upon performance metrics, including production, quality-of-work, reporting, and energy-reduction achieved.

The state certification process now used in the ARRA plan would be implemented for the "regular" plan under the proposal.

Copies of the proposed "regular" and ARRA plans are available online at www.newpa.com/weatherization, and at DCED's Office of Energy Conservation and Weatherization, 4th floor, Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North St., Harrisburg, PA 17120. Written comments may be submitted to E. Craig Heim, at the same address, until Friday, May 21, at 5 p.m.

A public hearing will be held in PUC Hearing Room 2, on the Plaza level of the Commonwealth Keystone Building, 400 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120, at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 24. Persons with a disability who wish to attend may contact Jacquelyn Allen at 717-720-1354 to discuss accommodations.

Media contacts:

Steve Weitzman, DCED; 717-783-1132

Barry Ciccocioppo, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development