Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is awarding more than $2.5 million in grants to local governments and public institutions in Northwest Louisiana to promote energy efficiency.

The grants will fund installation of high-efficiency LED lights on streets and in buildings of universities, library and school systems, municipal governments and other public bodies.

“These new fixtures will improve lighting and lower electric bills by thousands of dollars for these public institutions,” Campbell said.

The LPSC Energy Efficiency program for public entities and political subdivisions is an offshoot of the commission’s “Quick Start” Energy Efficiency program, which since 2014 has helped residential and commercial utility customers lower their electricity consumption across Louisiana. Participating utilities are SWEPCO, Entergy and CLECO.

“Energy Efficiency reduces energy costs, improves lighting and building comfort, and preserves our environment,” Campbell said. “Every dollar that our local governments and public bodies save on their electric bills is a dollar that can help them improve service to the public in other ways.”

The recipients of Campbell’s 2019 efficiency grants for Northwest Louisiana public institutions are:

· Northwest Louisiana Technical College, Mansfield campus, $76,719
· City of Bossier City, Arthur Ray Teague Parkway, $354,906
· Louisiana State University Shreveport, $500,000
· The Shreveport Downtown Development Authority, $217,452
· Southern University at Shreveport, $367,225
· Shreve Memorial Library, $500,000
· Town of Homer, $150,369
· Claiborne Parish School Board, $300,000
· Claiborne Parish Police Jury, $62,380

Funding for the LPSC Energy Efficiency program for public entities comes from a surcharge on electric bills paid by cities, parishes and other political subdivisions served by SWEPCO, Entergy and CLECO. Campbell said he plans a third round of grants by his office in 2020. The deadline for these third-year grant applications is March 1, 2020.

“I encourage all municipal and parish officials, school boards, university presidents and other public officials in North Louisiana to apply for these grants,” Campbell said.

For more information contact Gary Hobbs in Campbell’s LPSC District 5 office in Shreveport, 318-676-7464.