OCTOBER 21, 1997 - Governor John Engler today highlighted several energy grants and programs promoted by the Energy Resources Division at the Department of Consumer & Industry Services.

"These grants support a variety of programs that, at core, help Michigan better use its energy resources, from lessening our dependence on foreign oil to helping smaller manufacturers better prepare for electric deregulation," said Engler. "These programs underscore that energy efficiency and responsible environmental stewardship can go hand in hand with a sound bottom line."

Recent energy grants/programs include:

• Alternative Fuel Vehicle Grants. Matching Michigan Clean Cities grants were recently awarded to West Michigan Shoreline Development Commission ($24,000) to help them develop local markets for alternative fuel vehicles; The City of Ann Arbor ($55,000) and Eastern Michigan University ($55,000) to help them accelerate the introduction and increase the use of alternative fuels and vehicles. These two grants will leverage more than $950,000 in public/private investment. The project also includes developing a web site featuring Alternative Fuel Vehicle information, and constructing public Consolidated Natural Gas fueling stations in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.
  
  
• Swimming Pool Cover Matching Grants. Battle Creek Public Schools will receive $2,038, Chesaning Union Schools $1,025, and Covert Public Schools $1,335 to purchase and install pool covers and reel systems in five indoor pools. These grants will reduce pool heating costs by an average of 37.3 percent and water consumption by 55.7 percent.
  
  
• Electric Restructuring Education Seminars. They will be conducted by the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) to promote greater energy efficiency for smaller manufacturers in the Midwest and Michigan federal facilities. $127,000 was awarded to support the workshops for manufacturers, while $35,000 was granted from the Federal Energy Management Program for federal facilities in Michigan.
  
  
• Michigan Commercial Lighting and Energy Workshops. A $30,000 grant was awarded to Madonna University in Livonia to conduct half-day workshops promoting energy efficient lighting for commercial buildings. The workshops, targeted by facility type, are scheduled for Nov. 5 (Schools and Municipal Buildings), Nov.11 (Grocery and Retail Stores), and Nov.12 (Offices and Hotels/Motels) and will originate from Madonna's Interactive Television classroom. They will be broadcast simultaneously, via two-way audio and video, to sites in Escanaba, Grand Rapids, and Indian River. Call (313) 432- 5731 for conference and registration information.

"For a relatively small dollar amount, the grants and programs supported by Energy Resources will go a long way toward helping Michigan use energy resources more creatively and responsibly, " said CIS Director Kathy Wilbur.

For more information about these grants, please call Jan Patrick in the CIS Energy Resources Division at (517) 334-6262.

Read more Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services press releases.