Cool News: TD Library gets $100k boost to keep locals comfortable
Back in February, these bunnies' were part of a storytime kickoff at The Dallles Wasco County Library. More than 100 people showed up. The rabbits were provided by Bunnies-N-More. The bunnies names are Mama Jane, Sushi, Wasabi, and Ginger. A recent $100,000 grant award for a new HVAC system to the library will help keep the budget for programming at the library robust.
By Tom Peterson
The Dalles, Ore., Sept. 23, 2024 — Libraries are cool.
And the one in The Dalles just got cooler and, er… hotter.
The Oregon Department of Energy announced $1.2 million in grant awards to local governments across the state last week, and The Dalles Wasco County Public Library, 722 Court Street, received $100,000 for a new heating and air conditioning system.
$100,000 was the highest amount awarded to any entity within the grants.
The money was awarded to the City of The Dalles, which owns the building.
“Are you kidding me,” said Library Board Member Corliss Marsh this afternoon, Sept. 23. “Thanks for the news.”
“It’s really old and has been needing replacement,” Marsh said of the HVAC system. “Any minute it could go out.”
The Library was constructed in early ‘70s.
“It helps because it is so expensive. We can keep more money in programming.”
The funding was available thanks to the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and transportation-related projects.
Local governments were encouraged to apply earlier this year for the grants, which support projects that reduce fossil fuel emissions, lower a community’s total energy use, improve energy efficiency, and build a clean and equitable energy economy. The EECBG program was also designed to advance equity, environmental, and energy justice priorities in support of federal Justice40 Initiative goals to deliver benefits to disadvantaged communities. ODOE estimates that at least 40 percent of the awarded funds are supporting projects in disadvantaged communities across the state.
