The Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program (Weatherization Program)
received $5 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act)
to improve the energy efficiency of residences owned or occupied by low-income persons. The
Department subsequently awarded a three-year Recovery Act Weatherization Program grant of
almost $38 million to the State of West Virginia. This grant provided nearly eight times the
$4.8 million in Departmental funds available to West Virginia for weatherization in Fiscal Year
(FY) 2009.
The West Virginia Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity administers the Recovery Act
grant through 12 local community action agencies. These agencies are responsible for
determining applicant eligibility, assessing and weatherizing homes, and conducting home
inspections. West Virginia's goal is to weatherize approximately 3,500 homes with Recovery
Act funding, providing services to qualified elderly and handicapped low-income persons on a
priority basis. As of October 2010, the State reported weatherizing almost 1,800 homes at a cost
of $16.3 million in Recovery Act funding.
