In March, 2008, Cincinnati City Council approved a motion directing the Administration to apply for the US Department of Energy - “Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)” as outlined in the federal government Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) appropriated $3.2 billion for EECBG, including $2.6 billion for formula allocations to cities, counties, and states. In March, 2009, the Department of Energy announced the formula allocations, providing for $3,520,600 for the City of Cincinnati. Up to 20% of grant funds may be used for sub-grants to nongovernmental organizations, up to 10% may be used for administrative expenses, and up to 20% may be used for revolving loan funds.

The City Manager assigned the lead in developing the City’s EECBG plan to the Office of Environmental Quality (OEQ). OEQ began the process by soliciting funding request and gathering project information from City departments and external organizations. $77 million worth of project funding requests were received, more than 22 times the amount allotted to Cincinnati through the formula grant. OEQ clustered all projects into seven primary categories:

1) City Facilities
2) Non-government Organizations
3) Renewable Energy
4) Transportation
5) Recycling
6) Outreach
7) Administration

Project evaluations focused on the project’s ability to 1) meet the primary purpose of the block grant, 2) advance established City priorities, 3) transform Cincinnati, 4) create or retain jobs, and 5) leverage other available funds.

The City submitted its grant application on June 24, 2009. “The Department of Energy is currently reviewing applications and we expect to hear back from them in August, 2009,” said Mr.  Falkin, Director of OEQ. “Upon receiving approval, the City can start drawing down funds.”