Posted By David Wickert on November 20, 2009 at 8:39 am Bookmark and Share Share this
Pierce County has won a $4.4 million federal grant to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The money from the U.S. Department of Energy will cover everything from a new heating system at the jail to installing heat pumps in old houses.
It also will be used to hire Ryan Dicks – son of U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Balfair – to be the county’s “sustainability manager.”
In announcing the grant, County Executive Pat McCarthy said it “provides an excellent opportunity to find efficiencies, reduce energy costs and improve air quality.”
“It is fundamentally important to me that we leave a legacy of clean air and clean water for our children,” McCarthy said.
The Department of Energy grant is the latest example of federal economic stimulus money flowing to Pierce County.
State figures show $239 million worth of stimulus grants have come to the county through the state. That doesn’t include other grants that came straight from the federal government.
The latest grant will be used for a series of projects:
• To replace a 25-year-old heating, ventilating and air conditioning system that serves two floors at the county’s main jail. The move will allow the county to save 500,000 cubic feet of natural gas a year.
• To work with other agencies to convert older homes from wood stoves, oil or baseboard heat to high-efficiency gas furnaces, natural gas inserts or electric heat pumps. The project is designed to improve air quality and is expected to reduce greenhouse gases by more than 70 tons annually.
• To convert 78 traffic signals to more energy-efficient models, saving an estimated $72,000 annually based on today’s energy costs.
• To replace the electronic message board at Sprinker Recreation Center with a more energy-efficient sign.
• To replace the county’s 10-year-old computer disk storage system with a more energy-efficient system.
The county will also will use the grant money to pay Dicks’ $92,583 salary as sustainability manager. In that role he’ll oversee the grant-funded projects and other cost-saving measures. The position is guaranteed only for 24 months.
Dicks has served as president of an environmental consulting firm and was vice president of conservation transactions for the Cascade Land Conservancy. He also has been regional director for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell. Currently he works for the King County executive’s office.
Dicks starts work on Monday.
Read more: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/11/20/pierce-county-wins-4-4-million-energy-efficiency-grant/#ixzz0yuY9BYqa
Congressman Norm Dicks, University Of Washington Deny Earmark Abuse
Norm Dicks
Pierce County wins $4.4 million energy efficiency grant
A $6.2 million federal spending request by U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks is intended solely for the University of Washington - and no money will be shared with business partner Intellicheck Mobilisa, a university spokesman said.
Norm Arkans, the university's associate vice president for media relations, denied it would share earmark dollars with Intellicheck - even though Dicks' description of the earmark is almost identical to one he sought for Intellicheck last year.
"This is our project," said Arkans. "There is no role in this project for Mobilisa."
The university's statement contradicts a July 5 Huffington Post Investigative Fund report that Dicks had sought an earmark for the University of Washington that ultimately would financially benefit Intellicheck Mobilisa and in apparent contradiction of Dicks' pledge to restrict earmark requests benefiting for-profit businesses.
"The notion there's a pass-through of funds is erroneous," said Arkans. "We don't do that."
Through a spokesman, Dicks has denied seeking a way around the restrictions. "Intellicheck Mobilisa will not receive any of this funding," said Dicks spokesman George Behan. "There is no subterfuge. There is no intent to get around any rules."
Intellicheck has not responded to requests for comment by the Investigative Fund. On July 11, The Peninsula Daily News, a publication on Washington's Olympic peninsula, where Intellicheck is headquartered, quoted the company's chief executive, Nelson Ludlow, as denying the company would benefit from the earmark. "That is an absolute fabrication. UW is the beneficiary, not us," the newspaper quoted the CEO as saying.
