Thousands more homes than originally planned will be weatherized under a federal stimulus program, state Community Affairs Commissioner Lori Grifa said today before an Assembly committee. Though the program got off to a sluggish start and recently faced scrutiny from the state auditor because of missing funds managed by a third party contracted by the department, Grifa said today...
Rigo Berto, a field technician form Proceed Inc., photographs the back of a home in Linden as part of a federally funded weatherization program.Thousands more homes than originally planned will be weatherized under a federal stimulus program, state Community Affairs Commissioner Lori Grifa said today before an Assembly committee.
Though the program got off to a sluggish start and recently faced scrutiny from the state auditor because of missing funds managed by a third party contracted by the department, Grifa said today administering the federal money is now going well.
"We will do thousands more units," Grifa said. "We're going to work very feverishly."
About 13,000 homes were intended to be weatherized, each costing $6,500. To date, 5,200 homes are completed and about 12,000 more are audited and ready to go, Grifa said. The homes are only costing about $3,500 each, she said.
The program is intended to reduce greenhouse emissions, create green jobs and reduce energy bills for low-income jobs. New Jersey was granted 118 million for the program, which ends in March 2012.
Grifa was testifying because of the recent state audit. She said the department has hired a forensic auditor to look into a third party, New Jersey Community Action Association, under supervision of the Department. The auditor highlighted misplaced funds, poor budgeting practices and lax state oversight.
Grifa said the department has cut off ties to the organization, calling some of the auditor's findings "shocking, absolutely shocking."
To apply for your home to be weatherized, visit this link.
Previous coverage:
• Auditor criticizes N.J. management of federally funded weatherization program
• Audit finds more mismanagement of federal weatherization funds, poor state oversight
• N.J. ramps up weatherization program after audit showed mismanagement of federal funds