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Washington, DC – Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) celebrated a new $350,900 grant for clean energy initiatives in Loudoun County today through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, funded by the the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and managed by DOE’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). The Loudoun funding is part of more than $26.9 million to nine states, 27 local governments, and one Tribe for the next round of formula grants from the program. Funds will be deployed to advance crucial clean energy and infrastructure upgrades by state governments, local governments, and Tribes to reduce energy use, curb fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency. Together with other DOE initiatives, this program will support communities in the nation’s clean energy transition and in meeting President Biden’s goal of a net-zero economy by 2050.

“Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering to help local communities reduce their carbon footprint and meet their clean energy goals,” said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. “Supporting clean energy is good for the local environment, good for public health, and good for the future of our planet. I’m proud to see that these federal investments from one of the most significant legislative efforts to tackle climate change in our history are making an impact right here in our community in ways that will have benefits for years to come.”

“Energy efficient upgrades are a surefire way to bring down costs and shore up resiliency for communities across the nation,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is equipping local governments with funds to transform clean energy plans into real actions that deliver benefits in every corner of the country.”

Loudoun County will use the federal funds towards four main clean energy related projects: first, partnering with the County Department of Housing and Community Development to expand housing programs with energy audits of owner-occupied residences; second, developing a plan to reduce energy burden of disadvantaged populations in the County; third, retaining a consultant to carry out Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction, Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) fleet and carbon-free grid goals from the County's 2023 Energy Strategy; and fourth, conducting 40 energy audits of municipal buildings.

This is the fifth tranche of formula awards granted to EECBG Program eligible entities since the initial awards were announced in October 2023. The program provides over $430 million in formula grant funding to more than 2,700 states, territories, local governments, and Tribes. Entities have the option to choose activities from 14 eligible categories of clean energy projects and programs that fulfill their clean energy objectives. The program also advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative by assisting eligible governments to direct 40% of overall benefits from EECBG Program-funded programs and to disadvantaged communities that are often energy-burdened or left behind in the clean energy transition.

The awards announced this month include governments that will use EECBG Program funds to install EV charging infrastructure, develop e-bike incentive programs, conduct municipal building energy audits, provide efficiency retrofits and upgrades for low-income communities, and more.

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