Energy Office Offers Assistance Despite Fiscal Woes

Despite facing recession-fueled budget cutbacks like the rest of government, the V.I. Energy Office has millions of dollars still available to help residents get solar hot water heaters, energy efficient appliances and more, officials said during budget hearings Friday.

Just one program, Sun Power Loan, has helped 464 families purchase solar hot water heaters through a 50 percent rebate and low-interest, one-percent loans, testified Nellie Varlack, director of Business and Administration for the Governor’s Office. There are another 200 loans to give out by the end of this year, said Energy Office Grants Manager Aminah Saleem.

A 40-year-old weatherization program got a big influx of cash from the 2009 federal stimulus, and 338 more homes are to be weatherized with the remaining $847,000 in funding before March 31, 2012, Saleem said.

Sen. Louis Hill asked Saleem to elaborate on the weatherization program.

"It helps residents who really can't afford to put in energy efficiency measures," Saleem said. The office will purchase and replace inefficient light bulbs, refrigerators and other power hungry appliances, provide water heater timers, power strips to turn off DVD players and such all at once; water-saving shower and sink faucets, among other measures.

There are still rebates and incentives to purchase home-based alternative power production, like solar panels or windmills; incentives to purchase fuel efficient and hybrid electric vehicles and more, Energy Office Director Karl Knight said.