Stimulus Dollars Flood Energy Offices
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Updated: 11:46 AM Jul 16, 2009
Stimulus Dollars Flood Energy Offices
Florida is receiving 175 million federal stimulus dollars to make homes more energy efficient. The money will be distributed through nonprofit groups and there are concerns about the state’s ability to keep track of all that much cash.
Posted: 6:54 PM Jul 15, 2009
Reporter: Whitney Ray

Stimulus Money Earmarked For Homes
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Florida is receiving 175 million federal stimulus dollars to make homes more energy efficient. The money will be distributed through nonprofit groups and there are concerns about the state’s ability to keep track of all that much cash.

A quick energy audit can help you save hundreds of dollars on utility bills. Preparing your house for a storm can save you thousands.

Florida is receiving 175 million stimulus dollars to make homes more energy efficient. The money will flow from the state to non-profit organizations in every county. The Capital Area Community Action Agency is one of them. Dorothy Johnson says the agency will receive 6 million for four counties.

“Our normal weatherization fund is around 350-thousand dollars for all of those counties.”

The agency is hiring extra staff to help keep track of how the money is being spent. The money won’t begin circulating in Florida until September, but five states that have already received the weatherization dollars are reporting misused funds.

Florida’s Stimulus Czar Don Winstead says extra measures will be in place to keep every one honest.

“I think the Department of Community Affairs has built a strong oversight mechanism there for paying attention to those monies to audit before the homes are repaired and to go check afterwards.”

The Department of Community Affairs is hiring ten extra people to make sure contractors are doing the work the state is paying them to do.

In the past families that qualified could receive 25-hundred dollar to weatherize their homes. Because of the stimulus money the amount has been raised to 65-hundred.

To see if you qualify for an energy audit or upgrades to your house you can check with the Bay County Council on the Aging.


Latest Comments

Posted by: beach guy Location: pcb on Jul 19, 2009 at 04:45 PM

Good luck qualifying for this,if you make over 29k a year as a household you have no chance. So basically if you live on the beach forget it. Its nothing but another program for people on welfare,medicade social security, etc. This money shouldnt be handed out by the Bay County Aging group, this was meant to be weatherization stimulus dollars not more money for the poor. My home is in desperate need of new windows,and I cant afford them, but I cant qualify (I tried) because my wife and I make 40k a year combined.
Posted by: Brian Location: Panama City on Jul 17, 2009 at 08:59 AM

"Florida is receiving 175 million federal stimulus dollars to make homes more energy efficient. The money will be distributed through nonprofit groups and there are concerns about the state’s ability to keep track of all that much cash." So, in other words, this stimulus money (OUR TAX MONEY) is going to be wasted, full of fraud and abuse, and serve only to pad up a few people's bank accounts. Way to go, Obama, way to go.
Posted by: Marie Location: fl on Jul 16, 2009 at 06:39 PM

I was unable to locate the energy audit to determine if I quality for an energy upgrade. Pls provide a hyperlink. Thank you. Ed: It is the Bay County Council on Aging on Frankford Ave in Panama City. There is no hyperlink
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