Energy Efficiency; Conservation Block Grant Appropr.

Award Description: The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program provided the City funds for the purpose of reducing fossil fuel emissions in an environmentally sustainable manner, reducing total energy use of the eligible entities, and improving energy efficiency in the building sector, transportation sector, and other appropriate sectors.

Description of Jobs Created: Work performed on the City's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program has retained 1.83 FTE and created 0.82 FTE over the past two quarters. 1.29 FTE was retained by City for City administrative work done setting up the grant as whole as well as individual projects. This work has been performed by a managerial and professionals in the Office of Environmental Quality, the Office of Budget and Evaluation, the Regional Computer Center, the Law Department, the Planning and Buildings Department and the Department of Transportation and Engineering. A total of 0.82 FTE were created and 0.19 retained to do energy audits and energy retrofit work. Positions created include two management positions, one outreach position, and one advisor position. The 0.19 retained for energy audits was the Executive Director. 0.02 FTE of an Executive Director position was retained for management of the Mill Creek Restoration bike trail project. 0.30 FTE of professional project management staff was retained for implementation of the City's Climate Protection Plan. Finally 0.03 FTE of City professional planning staff was retained for implementation of the Building Codes Outreach program.

Quarterly Activities: EECBG funds are being used for planning activities for projects which support Cincinnati's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy outlined in the Green Cincinnati Plan. Energy Services Performance Contracts will enable the City to complete energy efficiency upgrades to City buildings; EECBG funds will be leveraged with the value of energy saved to finance capital projects. Energy efficiency retrofits of 35 City-owned facilities have been completed. Utilizing additon EECBG funding, an additional 34 facilities will be retrofitted in the second round of performance contracts. Energy audits of 39 buildings are complete and the City has determined the next group of projects EECBG funding will be used with. Work on those projects is expected to begin in mid-2010. Cincinnati Energy Alliance hired 4 staff persons, began implementing its program design in private sector buildings, and is identifying/evaluating financing programs to encourage retrofits. The City has finalized its contract with the Mill Creek Restoration Project and environmental assessment work is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2010 on the Bike Trail. Recycling Enhancements has worked on final implementation plans and contract revisions/negotiations. Green Cincinnati Plan efforts will encourage all sectors of the City to adopt environmentally conscious behavior- work has continued website development and planning has begun for 2010 Energy, Economics & Environmental Summit. The Urban Gardening Program will enable residents to grow local produce. The City continued to work to finalize contract with the Civic Garden Center and began work on site selection and testing. Building Code Outreach began planning its program, which will educate the construction community about the energy-saving building codes in 2010. Ohio River Trail will do an environmental assessment and engineering design of a segment of the hike/bike trail; the City continued to work toward federal approval of the trail plan.