This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.

Oh! The weather outside [can be] frightful, which is why Stephen Chu of the U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday that 7 states (Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, and New Hampshire) will be the recipients of more than $288 million dollars, which will be put toward weatherization projects.

The funds will go toward weatherization projects benefiting more than 91,000 homes. And with the money and subsequent weatherization comes lower energy costs for low-income families that need it, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and creation of green jobs across the country - all part of the Obama administration’s green vision.

Read more of this story »

Read more of this story »

Two groups that oppose mountaintop removal coal mining have been told they are not welcome to hold their upcoming meetings at a former Boy Scout camp deep in the coal fields of eastern Kentucky — despite both having held events there without incident in the past.

Jim Scheff of Kentucky Heartwood said his group called last May to reserve Camp Blanton for a gathering called the Heartwood Forest Council, to be held Memorial Day weekend. Another group, Mountain Justice, booked the camp for the days leading up to the holiday weekend.

Both groups found out just two weeks ago that their reservations were suddenly canceled.

Board member and attorney for the trust that operates the camp, Sidney Douglass told the Lexington Herald-Tribune that several board members have ties to the coal industry and “board members didn’t want to get the camp involved in the kind of controversies that they’re involved in.”

Read more of this story »

The Animal Legal Defense Fund has released a new report showing that while animal welfare laws have made great progress in recent years, five states lag far behind.

Read more of this story »

The State of Kentucky has suddenly jumped into the world of electric cars.  First in early August Governor Steve Beshear signed an executive order that allowed low speed vehicles on Kentucky roads with speed limits of 45 mph or less.  Soon thereafter the state developed a $48 million incentive package to encourage ZAP to build an electric car manufacturing plant in Kentucky.

ZAP’s vehicles are currently manufactured in China, but according to the company’s CEO Steve Schneider, the costs of logistics for ZAP have risen in recent years, particularly to ship vehicles from California to the East Coast.  A Kentucky manufacturing plant would help reduce that cost, he said.

They sure didn’t waste any time.  Construction equipment arrived at the site of the Wilkey North Industrial Park on Thursday September 11th, and a site contractor with a work crew have been mobilized to prepare the 200-plus acre site for rough grading, according Randall S. Waldman of Integrity Manufacturing. The goal of the project is a one million square foot factory for electric vehicles, a project with an estimated value of $100 million. The factory is expected to begin producing electric vehicles within 12 months and employ up to 1,000 people initially with the possibility of more in the future.

Read more of this story »

TableTours is offering a three-day local eating and drinking tour of Kentucky’s Bourbon country October 2 - 4.

The price of the tour is $350 per person and includes diverse Bourbon tastings, customized breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus from some of Kentucky’s most celebrated chefs, distillery and museum visits, and lectures on Bourbon and Kentucky history. Lodging is on your own from a selection of Bardstown bed-and-breakfasts.

If you’re interested, act now! Registration closes today.

MASSACHUSETTS – $48.8 Million Awarded

Massachusetts will use its Recovery Act funds to weatherize more than 16,900 homes over the next three years, while ramping up a Clean Energy Center to train and support a growing energy-efficiency workforce in the state.  Under the program, Massachusetts is increasing the number of auditors and other professionals that will be needed to meet the increased demand for weatherization activities. More than 25 additional auditors have already been hired, along with new private-sector employees that will work with local organizations responsible for weatherization work.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive an additional $61 million, for a total of more than $122 million.

MICHIGAN –$97.3 Million Awarded

Michigan will use funding from the Recovery Act to provide weatherization assistance to more than 33,000 homes over the next three years. The Michigan weatherization program, administered by the Department of Human Services, will provide home energy audits and weatherization activities that will lower energy consumption and utility bills in low-income homes across the state. Each home will receive a unique audit to determine which activities are the most cost effective.  Some of the most common weatherization procedures include the repair, insulation, and sealing of ducts and the installation of insulation in walls and attics. Weatherization funds can also be used to install energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs and replace energy consuming refrigerators and water heaters.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive over $121 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $243 million.

MINNESOTA – $52.7 Million Awarded

Minnesota will use its Recovery Act funding to weatherize more than 16,800 households over the next three years. Weatherization is a strong tool to minimize the effects of the state’s climate for residents, who face harsh polar air and extreme temperatures throughout the year.  The state’s Department of Commerce will administer the program and over thirty community action groups throughout the state will provide weatherization services in local areas with the largest groups located in Minneapolis and in Ramsey and Washington Counties. All organizations that implement the work are provided training and technical assistance workshops and conferences focused on maximizing energy savings and minimizing program costs.  The funding will also be used to support the state’s energy crisis plan that assists low-income households with weatherization services in the event of a disaster.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive an additional $65 million, for a total of almost $132 million.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - $9.3 Million Awarded

New Hampshire will utilize Recovery Act funding to help create new job opportunities and workforce development through the implementation of its weatherization assistance program and increased demand for weatherization professionals. The New Hampshire program will provide weatherization assistance to over 2,600 low-income households over the next three years. The New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning will administer the program, and subcontract to six community action agencies that will deliver weatherization services at the local level.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive over $11.5 million in additional funding, for a total of over $23 million.

More: How can you lower energy costs without using stimulus money?

Photo Credit: jps246 via flickr under Creative Commons License

That’s because both Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul plan to use their respective conventions to kick off a new bike-sharing program called “Freewheelin.” Created by the health benefits company Humana Inc. and the not-for-profit Bikes Belong, Freewheelin will bring 1,000 bikes to each city during the convention. Convention-goers will be able to use the bicycles free of charge to get around town without the need for cars.

Read more of this story »

The Idea Festival is a 3 day event from September 13-15, 2007 in Louisville, Kentucky, that gathers together leaders and thinkers across the nation to explore and celebrate innovations and ideas. Together, Geek Squad and Idea Festival are looking for great ideas in the following areas:

Solutions for eWaste: As much as technology is making life easier for most of us, the growing problem of eWaste is making things harder for the environment. Whether it’s an idea for a great piece of art made from recycled motherboards, or a biodegradable laptop made from sunflower seeds, Geek Squad wants to hear it.

Power Conservation: The world is awash in battery inefficiencies. Got a schematic for a more efficient solar panel? Send it in to Geek Squad. Think the world should harness the collective power of stationary bike riders and use it to heat museums? Even better.

Maximizing Untapped Resources: Geek Squad wants to hear about untapped resources, be they people they aren’t talking to but should, how to maximize ordinary things for extraordinary purposes (corn helps us make fuel now), or something else entirely.

The main purpose of the site is to promote ideas that people can suggest and it will also allow you to rate ideas submitted by others. Winners will get an all-expenses-paid trip to Idea Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. I am not sure how much fun you can have in Kentucky outside of the event, but the event sure sounds cool.

The Geek Squad Challenge

Idea Festival

MASSACHUSETTS – $48.8 Million Awarded

Massachusetts will use its Recovery Act funds to weatherize more than 16,900 homes over the next three years, while ramping up a Clean Energy Center to train and support a growing energy-efficiency workforce in the state.  Under the program, Massachusetts is increasing the number of auditors and other professionals that will be needed to meet the increased demand for weatherization activities. More than 25 additional auditors have already been hired, along with new private-sector employees that will work with local organizations responsible for weatherization work.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive an additional $61 million, for a total of more than $122 million.

MICHIGAN –$97.3 Million Awarded

Michigan will use funding from the Recovery Act to provide weatherization assistance to more than 33,000 homes over the next three years. The Michigan weatherization program, administered by the Department of Human Services, will provide home energy audits and weatherization activities that will lower energy consumption and utility bills in low-income homes across the state. Each home will receive a unique audit to determine which activities are the most cost effective.  Some of the most common weatherization procedures include the repair, insulation, and sealing of ducts and the installation of insulation in walls and attics. Weatherization funds can also be used to install energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs and replace energy consuming refrigerators and water heaters.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive over $121 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $243 million.

MINNESOTA – $52.7 Million Awarded

Minnesota will use its Recovery Act funding to weatherize more than 16,800 households over the next three years. Weatherization is a strong tool to minimize the effects of the state’s climate for residents, who face harsh polar air and extreme temperatures throughout the year.  The state’s Department of Commerce will administer the program and over thirty community action groups throughout the state will provide weatherization services in local areas with the largest groups located in Minneapolis and in Ramsey and Washington Counties. All organizations that implement the work are provided training and technical assistance workshops and conferences focused on maximizing energy savings and minimizing program costs.  The funding will also be used to support the state’s energy crisis plan that assists low-income households with weatherization services in the event of a disaster.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive an additional $65 million, for a total of almost $132 million.

NEW HAMPSHIRE - $9.3 Million Awarded

New Hampshire will utilize Recovery Act funding to help create new job opportunities and workforce development through the implementation of its weatherization assistance program and increased demand for weatherization professionals. The New Hampshire program will provide weatherization assistance to over 2,600 low-income households over the next three years. The New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning will administer the program, and subcontract to six community action agencies that will deliver weatherization services at the local level.

After demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive over $11.5 million in additional funding, for a total of over $23 million.

More: How can you lower energy costs without using stimulus money?

Photo Credit: jps246 via flickr under Creative Commons License