RI Infrastructure Bank to Accept Applications from Municipalities for Round 2 of Efficient Buildings Fund

PROVIDENCE, RI – Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (RIIB) today announced it will be offering free consulting services for qualified municipalities interested in participating in the Efficient Buildings Fund (EBF) program. Through this effort, RIIB will assign an energy consultant to participating public entities who will assist in identifying potential energy-saving opportunities at their buildings. Eligible public entities include municipalities, public schools, quasi-state entities and other local governmental units. Projects eligible for financing include cost-effective energy efficiency measures and the installation of renewable infrastructure, including solar panels and wind turbines. RIIB will accept applications for municipal energy management consultants through June 24, 2016.

“Continuing to invest in and strengthen our infrastructure plays a critical role in Rhode Island’s economic comeback,” said Governor Gina Raimondo. “Projects that are financed through the Efficient Buildings Fund put Rhode Islanders to work, save taxpayer dollars, and make our public buildings more energy efficient.”

The municipal energy management consultant will facilitate the EBF application process by helping local governmental units identify buildings with the greatest potential for energy reductions and recommending specific energy efficiency measures to be implemented. The partner will also identify contractors and vendors that can implement these energy efficiency measures, including energy audits of the specified public buildings. Additionally, the partner will work with local governmental units, the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, National Grid, utility providers, and RIIB to determine the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures.

“By helping municipalities identify energy-saving projects eligible for Efficient Building Fund financing, we can provide even more opportunities for cities and towns to save money on energy costs, so they have more money to invest in education, infrastructure and tax relief for their residents,” said General Treasurer Seth Magaziner.

The energy consultant will act as an independent energy manager for multiple public entities and will be precluded from bidding for and implementing any associated energy projects. The consultant will be contracted through RIIB for one year beginning July 1, 2016.

“Providing energy management consultants will make it even easier for public entities to take advantage of the Efficient Buildings Fund and help Rhode Islanders save energy,” said Jeffrey Diehl, Executive Director of Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. “During the program’s first round, we found that the preliminary work required deterred some potential candidates from participating.  We anticipate that making energy consultants available will eliminate many of those obstacles, streamline the process for applicants, and allow more municipalities to put forward impactful projects for financing.”

The EBF is a financing program designed to provide attractive financing to public entities for projects that promote energy efficiency and clean energy projects. This is the second application round of EBF since the program’s introduction in 2015.

The application for Energy Partner Services can be found here: www.riinfrastructurebank.com

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