(Washington, DC) The District Department of the Environment (DDOE) awarded $250,000 to 16 District residents, businesses, and non-profit organizations to assist with up to 50 percent of the cost to install renewable energy generation technologies. The award recipients will install solar panels that generate electricity to reduce their dependence on traditional utility power, lower their emissions, and decrease utility costs. The average grant award was $15,000. The award ceremony will take in the lobby of the Franklin D. Reeves Center in Northwest Washington, DC on Thursday, May 24 at 11 am. Mayor Fenty and other special guests have been invited to speak.

DDOE received a record forty-three project applications from across the District; each was reviewed by an expert panel and ranked for their demonstration potential. Solicitation for applications was part of a three year demonstration program called the Renewable Energy Demonstration Project (REDP), which is designed to increase the awareness and usage of renewable electricity generation technologies. REDP is funded by Pepco ratepayers through the Reliable Energy Trust Fund (RETF). Funds for the RETF programs were approved by the DC Public Service Commission.

DDOE will monitor the energy usage for all of the funded projects. All 16 projects are expected to produce approximately 66 kilowatts of electricity from the sun. For more information on the funded projects, please contact the Energy Hotline at (202) 673-6750.