To help Michigan residents who need assistant paying their energy bills, the Michigan Agency for Energy, with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, approved Energy Assistance Program grants to 14 organizations.
The grants total $89.5 million to help low income residents. In July, the agency issued a request for proposals for projects that will provide services that enables participants to become, or move toward, being self-sufficient. This includes assisting with paying energy bills on time, budgeting for and contributing to their ability to provide for energy expenses and utilizing energy services to optimize on energy savings.
After its review, the agency approved the following grants:
• Barry County - $201,000 to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households in Barry County.
• Consumers Energy Company - $13,220,000 to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households in its utility service territory throughout the state of Michigan.
• DTE Energy - $17 million to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households in its utility service territory throughout the state of Michigan.
• Flat River Outreach Ministries, Inc. - $78,700 to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households in the Lowell School District.
• Lighthouse Emergency Services - $200,000 to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households in Oakland County.
• Michigan Community Action Agency Association - $9 million to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households statewide.
• North Kent Community Services - $50,300 to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households in the northern region of Kent County.
• SEMCO Energy Gas Company - $2,600,000 to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households in its utility service territory throughout the state of Michigan.
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul of the Archdiocese of Detroit - $5 million to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households in 36 counties throughout the state of Michigan.
• Superior Watershed Partnership - $2,550,000 to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households throughout the 15 counties in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
• The Heat and Warmth fund - $8,825,000 to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households throughout the state of Michigan.
• The Salvation Army - $13,700,000 to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households statewide.
• TrueNorth Community Services - $15,075,000 to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households throughout the state of Michigan.
• United Way of Southeastern MI - $2 million to provide energy assistance program services to low-income households in Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties.
According to the agency, the grants are subject to approval by the State Administrative Board.
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