Published Sunday, March 29, 2009 12:09 AM
Stimulus to give Bryan, CS $1.4M
By CASSIE SMITH
cassie.smith@theeagle.com
The cities of Bryan and College Station will split more than $1.48 million in economic stimulus money from legislation signed by President Barack Obama.
The funds -- $695,100 for Bryan and $791,100 for College Station -- are designated for environmental initiatives, such as energy- efficient construction, projects to reduce methane and greenhouse gas emissions and the creation of alternative energy sources.
The funds will be distributed to the cities through the Texas State Energy Conservation Office, representatives from U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards' office said.
"Investing in community-based energy initiatives allows local ideas to make a positive difference," Edwards said. "These grants will give Bryan and College Station the opportunity to start reducing fossil fuel emissions, total energy use and improve energy efficiency in all sectors."
College Station Mayor Ben White said the city would likely use a portion of the funding to create a director position to coordinate the city's environmental programs.
White said the new staff member would serve as a contact point for residents, help increase awareness of programs already in place and research possible new programs.
City officials will determine whether to use the money for existing programs or new initiatives after reviewing the specifics on how the money can be spent, White said.
White said city officials were grateful for the funding, which, he said, was desperately needed at a time that the city and residents are looking to become better environmental stewards.
Bryan Mayor Mark Conlee said the city had a "long list of things" it could do with the money, including helping people insulate their homes. Conlee said Bryan officials would also need to better examine the guidelines for spending the money before deciding which programs to fund.
"Any money they send, we'll gladly take it," Conlee said.
Conlee said some of the funding could be used to turn methane gas at landfills into electricity, a program that the city has already developed for the Rock Prairie Road landfill.
"Any help we can get in that money, from federal money, we'll do everything we can to make that as green as possible," Conlee said.
Edwards said the federal funding would help the cities become more environmentally friendly, which could save money in the long run.
"Energy efficiency and conservation have become increasingly important as all Americans look for ways to cut costs," Edwards said.
Comments
14 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
MC Hendrick On:
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 9:54 AM
Comment Title: On the Hook
Like a previous poster said, what we don't want happening is a system set up that eventual causes all of our taxes to go up just to keep the program running year after year. I like the idea of spending it on cap-x projects that don't required monentary maintenance year after year. Like insulating homes. What I don't like is that we are directed on how the money is spent. Perhaps an explaination of why we have to spend it in this fashion is beneficial to us.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, March 30, 2009 10:52 PM
Comment Title: This smells. But then again CS will fall for it!
It's a slimy trick by the ObamaNation to get local control. Later on will they refuse to keep funding this and other projects if the Cities don't tow the line as dictated by Obama and Chet Edwards? Maybe fire the Mayor. Did it to GM so why not!This enviroment smells!
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Posted by:
--lets not try this in Bryan we would have 65,ooo homeless Bryan HUD residents looking for free Home in CS. On:
Monday, March 30, 2009 10:50 PM
Comment Title:
Let's look on the positive side. For College Station it would increase the median income, lower the percentage living below the poverty level, and most importantly, increase the average IQ level for College Station by 20 points. Now how would that be a bad thing?
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, March 30, 2009 10:06 PM
Comment Title:
"Good, now College Station can do an environmental clean up of their HUD projects beginning with the one on Luther Street. The smell is just horrendous"--lets not try this in Bryan we would have 65,ooo homeless Bryan HUD residents looking for free Home in CS.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, March 30, 2009 12:08 AM
Comment Title:
Yup, something is better than nothing.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, March 30, 2009 12:08 AM
Comment Title:
At least BCS is getting some monies back on all the taxes sent to DC.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 11:58 PM
Comment Title:
Whats gonna happen is both cities will do whatever green stuff they were already going to do and say it was done with stimulus money. Then they will build a Taj Mahal and put more $ into downtown Bryan.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 11:42 PM
Comment Title:
CS could trade in those gasoline motorcycles for some electric scooters.
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Posted by:
PHARAOH On:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 10:27 PM
Comment Title: Spend It
Put the money in red light cameras and smoking enforcement. B/CS will be a very exciting place to live in.
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Posted by:
Jeff On:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 5:22 PM
Comment Title:
There are 300,000,000 americans. 200,000 in BCS. There is $1,000,000,000,000.00 in stimulus package. Where is the rest of our money? How is this stimulus, btw? What are the strings attached? Jeff
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Posted by:
lenny On:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 2:39 PM
Comment Title:
I have to agree with the 2nd poster. Why create another beaurocratic position with the money? A Director? Despite what the mayor says, Directors aren't contact points for residents; that honor goes to the assistants and underlings (those who are directed). And since it is a new department, those assistants have to be hired, along with a secretary to keep up with things. Why is someone needed to 'help increase awareness of programs already in place'? How is this going to pay for itself? And where are they going to be housed ? ; the mayor is already on record as saying there isn't room for their existing personnel. If the city was interested in the environmental programs, they would already have moved to capture the gases that are currently escaping the Rock Prairie landfill. And as the previous poster pointed out, what happens when that one time money source runs its course? Disband the team? Most likely not. Wasteful spending.
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Posted by:
harmon On:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 11:02 AM
Comment Title:
Chet does bring the money to BCS. It seems to me a guy in the party in power is more useful than what the GOP has become (no-no-no-no-no). I've decided that Chet will do.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 8:39 AM
Comment Title:
College Station to use funds to create a director to coordinate environmental services. OK, when the $791K is spent, is the director gone also or is this a permanent piece of bureaucracy?
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, March 29, 2009 8:10 AM
Comment Title:
Good, now College Station can do an environmental clean up of their HUD projects beginning with the one on Luther Street. The smell is just horrendous.
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