Sean Green
Bossier Press-Tribune
Local municipalities and public entities such as schools and libraries received a late Christmas gift Thursday.
Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell announced $2 million in grants for energy-efficiency projects across Bossier, Caddo, and Webster Parishes.
“It’s not often that I am able to give out $2 million and I am very glad to do it,” Campbell said.
The money for the grants was generated by a small surcharge on electric bills paid by cities, parishes and other political subdivisions served by SWEPCO, Entergy and CLECO. It equates to .38 cents per month, per the average household consumption of 1,000 kilowatt hours.
“That’s .38 cents well spent helping the environment, helping Louisiana, and helping our schools and libraries be more efficient with better lighting,” Campbell said.
The following is a list of the entities and the share of grants received:
The recipients of Campbell’s efficiency grants for public institutions in Caddo, Bossier and Webster parishes are:
n City of Shreveport, $655,223 for indoor and outdoor lighting upgrades;
n Bossier Parish Community College, $492,400 for lighting and HVAC upgrades;
n City of Bossier City, $296,857 for lighting upgrades;
n Caddo Parish School Board, $203,320 in lighting upgrades;
n Northwest Louisiana Technical College, Shreveport campus, $185,750 for lighting and HVAC improvements;
n North Webster Elementary School, Cotton Valley, $140,170;
n Browning Elementary School, Springhill, $22,200;
n Brown Upper Elementary School, Springhill, $21,000;
n Springhill Library, $17,160;
n Sibley Town Hall, $5,280;
n Sarepta Library, $2,400;
n Heflin Library, $1,680;
n Cotton Valley Library, $1,680; and
n Doyline Library, $1,100.
Campbell noted that every dime matters with the financial issues facing Louisiana, saying north Louisiana is currently struggling.
“When we help (local public entities), they don’t have to go ask for more money. Money is tight in the state of Louisiana, especially in north Louisiana. South Louisiana is booming, north Louisiana is not doing as well and we need to do everything we can to help our elected officials where they can have efficient administrations and programs,” he said.
The LPSC Energy Efficiency program for public entities and political subdivisions is an offshoot of the commission’s “Quick Start” Energy Efficiency program, which since 2014 has helped residential and commercial utility customers lower their electricity consumption across Louisiana. Participating utilities are SWEPCO, Entergy and CLECO.
“We want Louisiana to be a progressive state, not a state in the past a state of the future. We want our future generations to think about solar and wind energy and natural gas,” Campbell said.
He added, “We’re saving money and energy and as long as we can talk about that, SWEPCO doesn’t have to talk about building a huge new energy plant that goes straight on your bill.”
Campbell said a second round of grants will be awarded by his office later this year