State completes weatherization and energy efficiency projects

John Dodge | Staff writer • Published January 05, 2012 Modified January 05, 2012

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The state of Washington has completed energy efficiency projects on 16,000 homes in the past three years , largely with federal recovery act funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy.

The $66.5 million supplied to the state by the federal government funded 12,300 home weatherization projects for low income families in Washington state, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said in a joint press conference with Gov. Chris Gregoire Thursday morning.

Gregoire said the state exceeded its goal of 7,500 homes targeted for energy conservation improvements using the federal stimulus funds.

Chu said an estimated 100 million of the nation's 140 million homes could benefit from a variety of energy conservation upgrades. He said his agency is working on program to make home energy improvement projects self-sustaining.

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