As state energy officials were anticipating since the Obama administration stimulus package was made public, California will get nearly $412 million for weatherization and energy efficiency programs that will be funneled through the California Energy Commission (CEC). An announcement from Vice President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Steven Chu confirmed this Thursday.

As broken down by the federal officials, $226 million will be directed at the CEC’s state energy plan, which puts energy efficiency as top priority, and another nearly $186 million will be targeted for weatherization assistance. The funds are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said weatherization assistance allows an average investment of up to $6,500/home for energy efficiency upgrades and are available to families making up to 200% of the federal poverty level, or about $44,000 annually for a family of four.

In the state energy programs, funding will be available for rebates to consumers for home energy audits or other energy-saving improvements, development of renewable energy projects for clean electricity generation, and alternative fuels, according to DOE.

In California the CEC administers these programs for the most part, and the agency is holding public meetings to assess what has been done and what still needs to be done to fulfill directives from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on renewable energy development. The first hearing was held Thursday in Sacramento and a second one will be held Tuesday in Palm Springs, CA.

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