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Insulation

Minnesota Community Action Agencies and the State of Minnesota Weatherization Assistance Program were recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy for high performance in weatherizing homes for those who qualify for the program. Minnesota ranks in the top states for performance to date on putting increased federal weatherization funds to work for state residents. A federal official said Minnesota is a national leader in weatherization and serves as a role model for other states.

Semcac's Executive Director, Terry Erickson, said, "I am very proud of Semcac’s Weatherization team for doing its part in helping the state’s Weatherization Assistance Program receive a 'Top Five Performer' award by the U.S. Department of Energy. Minnesota has a terrific reputation for administering effective programs and providing services to help our low-income residents. During the next two years, Semcac Weatherization has a goal to weatherize over 1,600 homes in Southeast Minnesota, including the counties of Freeborn, Mower, Steele, Dodge, Olmsted, Fillmore, Houston and Winona. Much work remains to be done, but it is a great honor for the state’s Weatherization Assistance Program to be nationally recognized for its extra efforts these past few months."

Minnesota received $132 million in federal stimulus funds for weatherization work on the homes of qualified residents. The special stimulus funding has enabled Semcac and other Community Action Agencies to weatherize additional homes--the state's goal is 17,000 homes over two years. About 3,000 homes are normally weatherized in a year. The goal of the Weatherization Assistance Program is to reduce energy costs for low-income families, particularly for the elderly, people with disabilities, and children, by improving the energy efficiency of their homes while ensuring their health and safety.

Along with improving energy efficiency and reducing heating bills for low-income households, the Weatherization Assistance Program’s statewide expansion has created more jobs in the last year. Erickson said, "Due to the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act’s focus on energy-related programs, Semcac alone has hired 10 full time positions in its Weatherization program, including four crew members, four energy auditors and two office personnel. Furthermore, in order to meet its tremendous goal of 1,600 homes over the next two years, Semcac Weatherization has eight private contractors completing projects throughout the region, and in some cases, these contractors have hired new employees as a result of this work." The program is also working with about 72 mechanical—furnace, plumbing and electrical—contractors to complete other energy-related projects that are the result of ARRA funding.

Statewide, Weatherization Assistance Program funding created 341.5 full-time equivalent jobs in Minnesota for the period between October 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009. Weatherization creates 52 direct jobs and 23 indirect jobs for every $1 million invested. Weatherization measures reduce national energy demand by the equivalent of 18 million barrels of oil per year.