GEO ANNOUNCES VETERANS GREEN JOBS TO PROVIDE WEATHERIZATION SERVICES IN DENVER, JEFFERSON COUNTIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009

GEO ANNOUNCES VETERANS GREEN JOBS TO PROVIDE WEATHERIZATION SERVICES IN DENVER, JEFFERSON COUNTIES

The Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) announced today that Veterans Green Jobs, a Colorado based non-profit, has been selected to provide weatherization services to income-qualified households in Denver and Jefferson counties.

Veterans Green Jobs will enable these qualified residents to save money on utility bills, ensure their energy consuming equipment is operating safely and reduce energy use by conducting home energy audits, upgrading insulation, sealing air leaks and installing high-efficiency appliances such as furnaces and refrigerators if needed.

“We’re excited to see Veterans Green Jobs join the New Energy Economy workforce in the metro area,” said GEO director Tom Plant. “Dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are creating jobs and allowing us to expand our weatherization services to help more Colorado families save money and energy every month of the year through increased efficiency.”

Veterans Green Jobs proposes to employ 24 people to accomplish work outlined in a $9 million contract expected to be executed in early January and to run through June 30, 2011. In that timeframe, the organization is expected to conduct weatherization services on nearly 1,800 homes.

Veterans Green Jobs was selected after a lengthy competitive process that began in September. VGJ was chosen based in part on an innovative partnership model that incorporates both non-profit and for-profit organizations. The GEO believes the model will ensure not only the highest quality service is provided to the low-income community, but will build capacity in the energy efficiency industry in the Denver region.

The current weatherization provider in Denver and Jefferson counties, Sun Power, will continue to provide service in the region through the remainder of its contract which expires on Feb. 15, 2010. While Veterans Green Jobs has a mission emphasizing employment of veterans, it has made a commitment to provide opportunities to employees of the existing service provider interested in joining the Veterans Green Jobs organization.

The GEO, through 11 local partners – including Veterans Green Jobs – is dramatically expanding its weatherization services to income-qualified households under the Recovery Act. With nearly $80 million in additional Recovery Act funding over three years, Colorado plans to weatherize more than 10,000 homes, reducing utility bills for low-income families who benefit most from the savings, making long-term energy saving improvements in Colorado housing stock, adding jobs across the state and reducing pollution and carbon emissions.

Households that qualify for weatherization services include those where residents are already receiving financial assistance under other programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid. Eligibility can also be determined by household income. Under ARRA, households making up to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible.

Information about the federal weatherization assistance program can be found at the following link: http://www.waptac.org/

Information about the GEO’s low income weatherization program can be found at the following link: http://www.colorado.gov/energy/index.php?/residential/category/free-energy-services/

To apply for weatherization service in Denver and Jefferson counties, please contact the current provider, Sun Power, at 303-382-1514 or the GEO’s weatherization program at 1-888-206-2122.

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About Veterans Green Jobs: Veterans Green Jobs (http://veteransgreenjobs.org/) is a Colorado not-for-profit organization that provides exemplary green jobs education and career development opportunities for military veterans, empowering and supporting them to lead America’s transition to energy independence, ecological restoration, community renewal and economic prosperity.

About the GEO: The Governor’s Energy Office (www.colorado.gov/energy) was created by an Executive Order on April 16, 2007. GEO’s mission is to lead Colorado to a New Energy Economy by advancing energy efficiency and renewable, clean energy resources. GEO works with communities, utilities, private and public organizations, and individuals to promote renewable energy such as wind, solar, and geothermal, and energy efficiency technologies in commercial and residential buildings. It also plays an integral role in designing and implementing state energy policy

CONTACTS:

For Veterans Green Jobs
Kirsten Maynard, 415-350-4147, kirsten@veteransgreenjobs.org

For GEO
Todd Hartman, 303-866-2262, todd.hartman@state.co.us