Nevada fastest spender of energy-related stimulus funds

Numbers from the U.S. Department of Energy reveal that Nevada ranks No. 1 in the nation for its share of energy-related stimulus funds already spent.

The Silver State has spent 91 percent of the funding the federal government allotted to the state through energy efficiency and conservation block grants, the National Association of State Energy Officials reported Thursday.

Kentucky is a distant second, with 59 percent of monies expended. The national average runs at 18 percent, the association said.

Nevada received nearly $10 million from the grants. The funding went toward upgrading public spaces with energy-efficient lighting, energy-conserving window treatments, insulation, weather stripping, heating and air-conditioning improvements and other building retrofits. Local police departments received new devices that help power computers, radios, lights bars and other equipment in their cars when their engines are off, which reduces greenhouse-gas emissions.

"It's exciting that Nevada leads the nation in this effort," said Stacey Crowley, director of the Nevada State Office of Energy. "Our office has injected this stimulus money into Nevada's economy and many of our city and county recipients are beginning to realize the many energy-savings projects, retrofits and renewable-energy installations."