Youngstown, Warren get stimulus money for energy conservation

YOUNGSTOWN — The announcement that the federal economic stimulus package included money for energy efficiency and conservation projects today took city officials in Youngstown and Warren by surprise.

But they’ll gladly take the money.

Youngstown will receive $744,300 and Warren is getting $196,700 from the federal fund to make residential and commercial structures more energy efficient by reducing total energy use and fossil fuel emissions.

“We don’t have a weatherization plan in Warren,” said Michael Keys, the city’s department of community development director. “We didn’t know we were receiving funding. It’s a great opportunity to start a program. We’ll wait till the guidelines come out to determine what we’ll do. I’m not sure how it works.”

Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams is somewhat familiar with the program, but the announcement surprised him.

The Mahoning Youngstown Community Action Partnership handles the city’s weatherization program.

The city will discuss what to do with the federal stimulus money for energy efficiency and conservation with MYCAP and come up with a plan, Williams said.

Youngstown and Warren are the only communities in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys to receive any money from this energy efficiency program.

Funding for the program was determined by the Department of Energy using a formula based on population and energy use.

For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com