Utah is in line to snag millions for energy-efficiency upgrades under the House-passed stimulus bill.
State Energy Office Director Jason Berry is tracking the bill, which would pump $819 billion into the U.S. economy, with energy spending making up a big chunk of it.
The funds could put crews to work retrofitting buildings and schools, Berry said, and helping low-income Utahns weatherize their houses, insulate their attics and seal their furnace ducts.
"It's a lot of money. It will be in the millions" for the state, Berry said this week. "The intent of this bill is to create jobs."
While there have been calls to spend stimulus cash on developing renewable energy, critics say those projects -- which would almost have to include a massive "smart grid" to move the electricity around the country -- won't get off the boards quickly enough to jump-start the economy.
By contrast, Berry said, energy-efficiency projects could immediately employ all kinds of workers, because most of the jobs aren't highly technical and training would be relatively quick.
In fact, it makes no sense to put solar panels on drafty buildings, he said. "I'd like to see energy efficiency first, then solar or renewable energy."
Funds could funnel to an existing federal energy-efficiency and conservation-grant program, said Utah Clean Energy Executive Director Sarah Wright. That would "create a tremendous potential for homegrown jobs that can't be exported to other countries."
Berry said money most likely would be distributed directly to the states, which would have to provide administration and oversight.
It's likely that three-quarters of the funds would have to be committed within 18 months of the bill's passage, Berry said. All counties and municipalities would have equal access to the money. But some smaller, rural areas could be at a disadvantage without state help.
"Many counties and municipalities don't have the expertise to know what to request," Berry said, "but all of the entities will have to provide a game plan."
