County accepts Department of Energy EECBG award to advance campus energy work

Oakland County’s Office of Sustainability on Jan. 8 briefed the infrastructure committee on acceptance of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Julie Lyons Bricker, the office’s chief sustainability officer, and Jill Deliberte, energy manager with facilities management, told commissioners the formula-funded grant will be used to support capital planning and design for energy work across the county campus, including evaluation of the century-old steam plant and options to modernize campus systems. Commissioner Will asked about the potential for employee displacement; staff said they are mindful of staffing implications and described the work primarily as planning and improvements.

The committee voted to forward acceptance of the grant to the Finance Committee; the motion passed unanimously.