WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Arlen Specter (D-PA) applauded the announcement that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded $3.8 million to three organizations in Pennsylvania to continue the state’s success and innovation under the Weatherization Assistance Program. These funds were made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act(ARRA).

“The federal funding that has been awarded to these organizations for weatherization projects is another example of the way the Recovery Act is benefitting the Commonwealth,” said Senator Casey.  “This money will help put Pennsylvanians back to work and provide the tools necessary to make our buildings more energy efficient.”

“I am pleased to see stimulus funds being used for weatherization projects in Pennsylvania,” said Senator Specter. “This funding will help reduce energy costs for low-income Pennsylvanians and create new green business opportunities in the Commonwealth.”

The ARRA Weatherization Assistance Program supported more than 13,000 jobs in the second quarter of 2010, including more than 700 jobs in Pennsylvania.

The DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program helps low-income families save energy and money by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. From April to June 2010, Pennsylvania weatherized over 1,000 more homes than in January through March of this year. In total, the state has already weatherized nearly 8,400 homes under the Recovery Act.

The Commission on Economic Opportunity of Luzerne County in Wilkes-Barre and the Scranton/Lackawanna Human Development Agency in Scranton have been selected to receive nearly $1.4 million for hybrid water heaters and in-home energy use monitors.

Additionally, the Pennsylvania Commission on Economic Opportunity, based in Wilkes-Barre, has been selected to receive $2.4 million to evaluate the additional energy savings potential of in-home display devices that help households manage their energy use. The project will also demonstrate the use of carbon credits and energy efficiency certificates as an innovative financial sustainability strategy for weatherization activities.