By
Catherine Godbey, The Decatur Daily, Ala.Mar. 6--The largest energy-assistance organization in North Alabama is gearing up to receive $2.5 million a year for the next two years to weatherize 2,000 homes.
"Dollar for dollar the weatherization program we run makes the biggest impact. It's the most influential work we do with the biggest return on investment," said Michael Tubbs.
He is executive director of the Community Action Partnership of North Alabama.
The funds designated for weatherization are from the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Barack Obama signed into law Feb. 17.
For the Community Action Partnership, $2.5 million equals the weatherization of 1,000 houses and the creation of jobs, a goal of the Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Creating jobs
"Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs," Obama said during his address to the joint session of Congress on Feb. 24.
Last year, the partnership operated the weatherization program with an employee and six contractors.
Now, the partnership is scouting to hire three to five employees and five to 10 general contractors.
The weatherization program examines and outfits houses in Morgan, Lawrence, Cullman, Walker, Marion and Winston counties.
"To weatherize 1,000 houses a year, we are going to have to weatherize five houses a week. Last year we weatherized five houses a month," Tubbs said. "We need those contractors who are not working to work for us in weatherizing these houses."
Tubbs said people have trouble paying electric bills in all sections of Decatur. "We see it in Morgan City, Mount Hope, trailers, brick houses and wood-frame homes."
For those residents battling electric costs, the partnership offers permanent and temporary relief, through the weatherization and energy assistance programs.
Both programs are free to individuals seeking assistance.
The U.S. Department of Energy's office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy states weatherization decreases monthly heating costs by an average 32 percent. In financial terms, 32 percent translates to $413 a year.
For every dollar spent weatherizing a house, $2.72 is returned in energy-related benefits, said Ron Ford, the partnership's energy team leader.
A lack of funding resulted in the partnership weatherizing 63 homes while turning away other clients last year, said Morgan County Team Leader Cindy Anderson.
Spending an average of $6,000 on each assignment, the partnership will install insulation, seal air leaks and purchase energy-efficient appliances, including light bulbs.
"We walk into a lot of these houses and they are dark because light bulbs use a lot of electricity," Ford said. "The homeowners are hesitant to turn on the new light bulbs but then they learn that they can turn them on and not incur a high cost."
With $5 million of the taxpayers' dollars slated for the weatherization program, proving the program's success is imperative.
"We know the tsunami is coming, and we are trying to prepare," Tubbs said.
When the partnership receives the funds depends on how quickly the funds move from the federal to the state and local levels. Tubbs estimated 30 days but said delays could occur.
Tubbs said the organization's proven ability to manage federal funds, assess clients and a history of clean audits earned the partnership a portion of the stimulus bill.
The need for the program's expansion is evident through the demand for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which financially assists low income families with utility costs. The partnership operates the program in Morgan, Lawrence and Cullman counties.
From October to the middle of February, 2,863 house- holds received financial support. During the same time period last year, the partnership allotted funds to 1,865 households.
The number of clients asking for energy assistance quadrupled this year, Anderson said.
Of the $1.4 million in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds, the partnership spent $997,000 as of Feb. 18.
Anderson and Tubbs based the increased need of financial assistance on the economic situation and the increased energy rates.
"It's not just the elderly. Working families are struggling also. There are a lot of people who didn't go to work today for the first time and need some assistance," Tubbs said.
Weatherization Program
Contractors interested in working with the Community Action Partnership of North Alabama should contact Energy Team Leader Ron Ford at 260-3116.
--Homeowners interested in learning more about the weatherization program requirements and applying for the program should also contact Ford at 260-3116.
--Homeowners interested in applying for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program should contact Morgan County Team Leader Cindy Anderson at 260-3126.
--To qualify for weatherization, households must earn an income at or below 150 percent of the poverty level. For a one-person household the maximum income is $15,600. A four-person household can earn no more than $31,800.
--Weatherizing a house requires assessors to examine the home's insulation, appliances and air infiltration.
Community Action Partnership of North Alabama
-----
To see more of The Decatur Daily, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.decaturdaily.com
Copyright (c) 2009, The Decatur Daily, Ala.
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
A service of YellowBrix, Inc.