Governor Schweitzer Presents $431,850 in New Energy Efficiency Upgrade Grants to Butte School District #1

~ Quick Start Program Awards $4.1 Million More in Grants ~

Governor Brian Schweitzer today presented a total of $431,850 in new energy efficiency grants from the Montana Department of Commerce Quick Start program to Butte School District #1, at Hillcrest Elementary in Butte. Butte School District #1 will use the grants to complete energy improvements at Hillcrest Elementary School, Kennedy Elementary School, Emerson Elementary School, and Abraham Lincoln Alternative School, and for an Investment Grade Energy Audit at Butte High School.

"This Quick Start award will save money and create and retain jobs," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "These funds will help Butte School District #1 save a total of nearly $34,000 a year in energy costs. The District estimates it will create 12 to 15 temporary jobs through these energy projects and it will retain up to four teaching positions as a result of the energy savings. This initiative is a top priority because of the long-term benefits it provides. Quick Start is without a doubt, an investment in Montana schools, Montana students and Montana teachers."

Funds to Butte School District #1
Lighting Upgrade Project: $10,450 – To upgrade lighting at Hillcrest Elementary School, Kennedy Elementary School, Emerson Elementary School, Abraham Lincoln Alternative School.

Boiler Replacement Project: $383,900 – To install new boilers at Hillcrest Elementary School and Kennedy Elementary School.

Investment Grade Energy Audit: $37,500 – To provide a comprehensive Investment Grade Energy Audit of Butte High School.

The Montana Department of Commerce has also awarded another $4,136,444 in new energy efficiency grants for projects in an additional 25 Montana school districts. A number of schools within each school district are being served by the funds. The Montana Department of Commerce is providing the competitive grants for Montana schools to perform energy audits and energy efficiency upgrades through the Quick Start program. Quick Start, approved by the 61st Legislature in the Montana Reinvestment Act (HB 645), implements the federal American Recovery Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. The program is designed to assist schools with conducting energy audits and completing energy efficiency projects that provide long-term, cost-effective benefits to K-12 school facilities.

"The Montana Department of Commerce is proud to announce another $4.1 million in Quick Start grants for Montana school districts," said Anthony Preite, Director of the Montana Department of Commerce. "We have really hit the ground running with these Reinvestment Act funds. With about $5 million in grants left available, we strongly encourage school districts to apply for funds. They will provide benefits to schools for years to come."

To date, the Montana Department of Commerce has awarded a total of $9,466,626 in Quick Start grants. Of this, $1,897,623 was awarded to school districts for energy audits. The most recent grants of $4,136,444 have been awarded to school districts for energy efficiency projects, ranging from lighting to geothermal heat pump replacements. These school districts include:

Missoula Public Schools, Missoula $149,195

Winnett Public Schools, Winnett $16,863

Huntley Project K-12 Schools, Worden $219,376

Melstone Public Schools, Melstone $21,456

Broadus Public Schools, Broadus $19,233

Plains Public Schools, Plains $56,505

Livingston School, Livingston $45,303

Glendive Public Schools, Glendive $469,933

Frenchtown School District, Frenchtown $462,206

Manhattan School, Manhattan $274,049

Highwood Public Schools, Highwood $10,527

Box Elder School, Box Elder $128,697

Corvallis School, Corvallis $94,130

Augusta Public School, Augusta $138,649

Rapelje Schools, Rapelje $57,355

Billings Schools, Billings $564,000

Kalispell School District, Kalispell $285,878

Eureka Schools, Eureka $353,516

Victor School District, Victor $237,491

Grass Range School, Grass Range $109,404

Choteau School, Choteau $71,958

Olney-Bissell School, Whitefish $167,623

Jefferson High School, Boulder $47,901

Savage Public Schools, Savage $99,796

Stevensville School, Stevensville $35,500

Under the Quick Start program, a school district may apply for grant money through the Montana Department of Commerce to have an energy audit performed. That school district may also use an energy audit previously performed, so long as it was performed within the last five years. Once the audit is performed, the school district may then apply for grant money through the Montana Department of Commerce to implement the conservation projects targeted in the energy audit.

In awarding grants to public school districts, the Montana Department of Commerce considers the potential for energy savings in public school facilities based on factors including the age, energy use, function and condition of the building. The Montana Department of Commerce also makes every attempt to accommodate large, small, urban and rural schools. Review of energy audit applications and energy efficiency project applications will continue each week until September 1, 2009.

The Montana Department of Commerce looks forward to providing this valuable service to Montana’s public schools. For more information please contact the Quality Schools Grant Program at 406-841-2800 or visit the website at http://commerce.mt.gov/QuickStart.

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Marissa P. Kozel

Communications Director, Director’s Office

Montana Department of Commerce

406-841-2772 (o)

406-465-7208 (c)

[email protected]