Posted: December 06, 2005; 2:00 p.m.

Virginia Sets Energy Program in Motion

Governor Mark R. Warner has announced three significant actions by the state government and private sector to help low-income Virginians bracing for significant and unexpected increases in winter home energy prices, highlighted by a historic $18 million state supplement to the expected $30 million Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) federal grant that Virginia will receive this fiscal year.

There are three key programs under the LIHEAP umbrella to assist low-income people with heating costs:

1. Fuel Program
   Starting in December this program will pay a lump sum towards winter heating bills for the low-income.
2. Crisis Program
   This program will help deal with emergency situations outside of the normal fuel assistance application cycle, such as if someone's furnace malfunctions and needs repair or if someone needs help paying a bill.
3. Weatherization Program
   This program will provide additional assistance by helping make the homes of low-income people more energy efficient to help hold down their bills going forward.

Energy Conservation

In addition to the three key programs, Governor Warner has ordered additional energy conservation measures for state government. They include:

• Purchasing 110 new fuel efficient vehicles in the next biennium in order to increase the average miles per gallon to 34 miles per gallon, which is estimated to save about 100,000 gallons of gasoline over the next six years.
• The Governor’s budget team prioritizing those capital projects that have tangible energy savings.
• State agencies practicing the strictest possible energy conservation policies