August 2, 2011

Honorable Sam Brownback

Governor of Kansas

Capitol, 300 SW 10^th Avenue, Ste 241S

Topeka, KS 66612-1590

Dear Governor Brownback:

As Mayors of the sixteen Kansas communities participating in the Take Charge! Challenge, we respectfully urge the Governor to reconsider the decision to withdraw ARRA funding from the Efficiency Kansas program.  This program has provided vital economic stimulus to our communities and critical support for families struggling to pay their energy bills.

§ Local economic development: During the economic downturn, Efficiency Kansas gave our building contractors an opportunity to expand their services to include energy audits and efficiency upgrades - sustaining many small businesses through these challenging times. Efficiency Kansas is a true public/private partnership that provided jobs for 50+ energy auditors serving our communities.

§ Support for homeowners and families: Efficiency Kansas energy audits provided thousands in our communities with valuable knowledge about their homes’ energy use, and much-needed financing for families struggling to pay their utility bills.  Families in our communities received critical upgrades to their homes, making them not only more comfortable, but safer as well.

§ Community engagement:  As participants in the Take Charge! Challenge, our communities rallied around the simple measures they can do to “take charge” of their energy bills.  Our community leadership teams gave presentations, hosted events, and went door-to-door, all to inform their neighbors of the benefits of Efficiency Kansas and encourage them to save energy and money.

§ Long term benefits: In addition to boosting economic activity today, the program’s revolving loan program ensures that our residents will have access to energy efficiency financing for years to come.

We respectfully request that the Governor consider re-allocating $15 million of the ARRA funds to fully support Efficiency Kansas. At the very least, a $5 million “bridge” support would allow Efficiency Kansas to honor the outstanding energy audits already conducted in our communities.  These homeowners hired local energy auditors and faithfully followed the program, but are now left without funding to complete the recommendations in their Energy Conservation Plans.  

Please help support the critical momentum for energy efficiency that Efficiency Kansas has created in our communities and across the state.

Sincerely,