Dickson Housing Authority gets TDEC Clean Energy Grant

DICKSON - Governor Bill Haslam and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) announced today two grants to help fund energy conservation improvements at the Dickson Housing Authority and Water Authority of Dickson County.

"I want to applaud the Dickson Housing Authority and the Water Authority of Dickson County for their commitment to implementing energy efficient practices," Haslam said. "Reducing our environmental impact helps us protect our great state for future generations while reducing costs for Tennessee taxpayers."

Clean Tennessee Energy Grants are awarded to fund energy efficiency projects for local governments and municipalities, utilities and other private and public organizations across Tennessee. Clean Tennessee Energy Grants support projects designed to reduce air emissions, improve energy efficiency and create cost savings. Eligible categories of the Clean Tennessee Energy Grant Program include:

• Energy Conservation - lighting, HVAC improvements, improved fuel efficiency, insulation, idling minimization
• Air Quality Improvement - reduction in greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, oxides of nitrogen, hazardous air pollutants
• Cleaner Alternative Energy - biomass, geothermal, solar, wind

"We are proud to help Dickson County become more energy efficient," TDEC Commissioner Bob Martineau said. "We continue to look for ways to promote environmental awareness and energy efficiency within Tennessee's communities."

The Dickson Housing Authority (DHA) is receiving a $250,000 Clean TN Energy Grant from TDEC, which will be used to help complete energy conservation improvements in managed units, including the replacement of heating and air conditioning systems with new Energy Star-rated heating and air-conditioning, replacement of compact fluorescent light bulbs with Energy Star-rated LED bulbs and replacement of existing single pane windows with Energy Star-rated insulated windows. The project will reduce annual electricity demand by an estimated 233,000 kilowatt hours, produce savings of more than $30,000 on DHA's power bill each year, and provide an improved housing experience for residents.

The Water Authority of Dickson County (WADC) is receiving a $15,362 grant to upgrade the Jones Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant's lighting fixtures, which are original to its 1978 construction. The project will replace more than 100 existing lighting fixtures with energy efficient ones that reduce annual electricity demand by 173,000 kWh and produce savings of more than $13,000 on WADC's power bill each year. 

All Tennesseans will benefit from the positive environmental impact of reduced annual air emissions estimated at these facilities. There will be an estimated reduction of 205 tons of carbon dioxide, 833 pounds of sulfur dioxide and 264 pounds of nitrogen oxides at DHA, and an estimate of 130 tons of carbon dioxide, 954 pounds of sulfur dioxide, and 2,212 pounds of nitrogen oxides at WADC.