City leaders in Cape Girardeau will have an opportunity for some creative thinking when it comes to energy efficiency thanks to grant money from the federal economic stimulus program.

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that Cape Girardeau is in line for up to $173,000 for weatherization programs, the city's part of $43.8 million allocated to Missouri and $3.2 billion distributed nationwide. The announcement means the city is eligible to apply for that money under myriad possible uses, according to information from the department.

While the grant comes as a surprise, said Steve Williams, city housing assistance coordinator, there is no lack of ideas for using the funds. "We are always prepared," he said. "The only thing I can tell you is whenever we get it, we will be prepared."

According to the department, the money can be used to aid businesses and homeowners with energy efficiency audits and weatherization upgrades. Or it could be used for city purposes as wide-ranging as energy-efficient street and traffic lights, retrofitting public buildings and installing renewable-energy technologies on government buildings.

The latest grant announcement is in addition to funding announced March 12 that will provide money for energy-efficiency upgrades in homes and apartments that house low and moderate income families. At that time, the energy deparment announced that a joint allocation of $156,067 had been made to Cape Girardeau and Cape Girardeau County.

To use that money, the city must identify homeowners or rental properties for up to $6,500 in energy-efficiency improvements. Eligibile families must earn less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $44,000 for a family of four. The income guideline is new. Previously the income limit for the home weatherization program was 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline.

The funds are in addition to up to $6 million available for home-weatherization programs provided by the East Missouri Action Agency in a seven-county area that includes Cape Girardeau County.

In the past, Cape Girardeau has worked with the action agency to offer both home repairs and weatherization in targeted areas of the city. The grants announced Thursday and March 12 will be under the city's direct control.

"They have had limited amounts that we spread as far as we could," Williams said of the action agency resources.

In the news release announcing the grants, the department said grant recipients must report the number of jobs created or saved by the spending as well as the energy savings, how much renewable energy capacity was installed and whether the money was used to match or add to funding in other programs.

"These investments will save taxpayer dollars and create jobs in communities around the country," Vice President Joe Biden said in a news release accompanying the grant announcement. "Local leaders will have the flexibility in how they put these resources to work -- but we will hold them accountable for making the investments quickly and wisely to spur the local economy and cut energy use."

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent addresses:

401 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.