DNREC Division of Energy & Climate announces public workshops June 22 and 23 about relaunch of state’s Energy Efficiency Investment Fund

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Energy & Climate today announced public workshops focused on the relaunch of the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) grant program, which supports eligible energy efficiency projects in the commercial, industrial and non-profit sectors. The workshops will present information about planned changes to the EEIF application process, changes to available incentives and changes to the incentive levels. The workshops will inform affected stakeholders of the new program and help them prepare for participation in it.

Two EEIF grant workshops will be held, with content the same for both:

  • Kent County: 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, DNREC Auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901
  • New Castle County: 2 p.m. Thursday, June 23, DNREC Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances Conference Room A, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720

Established in 2011, EEIF was created to help Delaware businesses make strategic investments in capital equipment and facility upgrades to help decrease operating costs, reduce energy consumption and improve environmental performance. The fund was initially funded through public utility tax receipts. The program was fully funded for its first two years of operation and continued with reduced funding for two additional years. For fiscal year 2016, no new funding was appropriated, which necessitated the suspension of select sections of the program.

DNREC’s Division of Energy & Climate is reopening the program using funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multistate program designed to reduce greenhouse gases from the energy sector. Several new changes to the program are proposed for the coming program year.

Benefits of the planned changes include:

  • Improved incentives for energy efficiency measures that go beyond existing building/energy codes
  • Better alignment of program incentives with the current lighting market
  • Quicker turnaround between submission and review of applications

Questions may be emailed to Rachel Yocum or by contacting her at 302-735-3480.

For more information on EEIF, please visit the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund web site.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 222