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BPA Aids Low-income Northwesterners by Becky Brun NW Current, November 28, 2006

Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) announced in late October that Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana will receive $15 million for low-income weatherization programs over the next two years. It's the largest amount BPA has provided for such programs in its 69-year history.

The weatherization funds are allocated to each of the four states based on their relative numbers of low-income residents recorded in the 2000 census. A total of $500,000 is set aside annually for Northwest tribal weatherization programs, and the remaining $14.5 million annual allocation is set to be divided among the states.

From 2000 to 2006, BPA committed about $3.7 million per year for weatherization in the four states, and $150,000 per year for tribal weatherization programs.

BPA distributes its weatherization funds through cooperative agreements that mandate the funds be used in conjunction with existing state-run low-income weatherization programs that follow U.S. Department of Energy Weather Assistance Program guidelines. Funds for low-income tribal weatherization programs are allocated to Northwest tribes through contracts.Ê

Through its Conservation and Rate Credit program, BPA is making $36 million available to utilities over the next two years to allow utilities to conduct their own conservation efforts, also including low-income weatherization programs.