WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Department of Energy is providing $24.3 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand weatherization assistance programs in Oklahoma. These funds, along with additional funds to be disbursed after the state meets certain Recovery Act milestones, will help to weatherize more than 7,000 homes, cutting energy costs for low-income families that need it, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating green jobs across the state.

Today’s announcement includes weatherization funding for a total of thirteen states: Alabama, Idaho, Maine, Missouri, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Washington, and Wyoming. Across the country, the Department of Energy will deliver more than $448 million that will help these states achieve their goal of weatherizing more than 125,000 homes.

Oklahoma is receiving 40 percent of its total Recovery Act weatherization funding today following approval of a comprehensive state plan. This installment adds to the initial 10 percent funding allocation previously awarded to Oklahoma for training and ramp-up activities. The remaining 50 percent of funds will be released when the state meets reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones required by the Recovery Act. Under the Recovery Act, the state may spend up to 20 percent of the funds to hire and train workers.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, Oklahoma will receive an additional $30.5 million, for a total of nearly $61 million.

“These awards demonstrate the Obama Administration’s strong commitment to moving quickly as part of the country’s economic recovery -- creating jobs and doing important work for the American people -- while ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly," said Secretary Chu. "Today’s investments will save money for hard working families, reduce pollution, strengthen local economies and help move America toward a clean energy future.”

Oklahoma will use its Recovery Act funds to weatherize more than 7,000 homes over the course of the next three years. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce (ODOC) will oversee this program, partnering with 19 local community action agencies to serve all of Oklahoma’s counties. Funds will be distributed within the state based on poverty level, the elderly population, and the number of substandard housing units within an area. ODOC is committed to ensuring that every segment of the low-income population—urban and rural, farm and non-farm—receives the weatherization services they need. Weatherization work in the state will include a wide variety of cost-effective repairs and measures.

DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program will be available to families making up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level – or about $44,000 a year for a family of four. Weatherization projects allow low-income families to save money by making their homes more energy efficient, which results in average savings of 32 percent for heating bills and savings of hundreds of dollars per year on overall energy bills.

The Recovery Act includes a strong commitment to oversight and accountability, while emphasizing the necessity of rapidly awarding funds to help create new jobs and stimulate local economies.