SEVIER COUNTY, TN – Sevier County has been awarded an Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant (EECBG) as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The $356,900 grant will be used to retrofit the Sevier County courthouse’s HVAC and lighting systems and partial window replacement.

“We’re pleased to be awarded this grant and look forward to improving the courthouse and lowering our energy bills,” said Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters. “We’d like to use the courthouse as an example to our residents and businesses to promote energy efficiency and conservation measures throughout the county.”

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the EECBG program has more than $2.7 billion to develop and implement projects to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions across the country in local communities.

“Reducing energy usage benefits everyone,” said Assistant County Mayor Greg Patterson. “Just like our involvement in the East Tennessee Regional Clean Air Coalition and our energy conservation projects in the school system, this grant shows that Sevier County is committed to contributing to energy efficiency.”