Gov. Matt Blunt today announced the approval of nearly $1.9 million in low-interest loans to help Missouri schools and communities save money on energy costs. Throughout Missouri, six school districts and four county and city governments will use the loans to make energy-efficiency improvements to save more than $166,000 annually on their energy costs. The loans were approved by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources through the Energy Loan Program.

"The Energy Loan Program is more important than ever as school districts, cities and counties are facing substantially increasing energy costs." Gov. Blunt said. "Energy efficiency improvements accomplished through these loans improve classroom conditions for our students, save taxpayer's money, and help each school district and local government redirect the energy savings toward other priorities and needs."

Energy efficiency plays a vital role in environmental quality, reducing environmental impacts on Missouri's air and water by displacing fossil fuel generation. Nearly 94 percent of Missouri's primary energy sources are imported from outside the state and Missourians spend more than $14 billion each year for all energy needs. Energy efficiency benefits Missouri's economy by reducing the rate at which dollars leave the state for the purchase of fossil fuels.

The Missouri Energy Center has loaned more than $80 million throughout Missouri since 1989. Eligible loan applicants are schools, local governments, colleges and universities. The cumulative energy savings resulting from 478 energy loan-financed projects are estimated at more than $146 million.

In Southeast Missouri, the Clarkton School District will use a loan of $151,000 to upgrade and replace inefficient windows, lighting and heating and air conditioning equipment, to save more than $13,000 per year in utility costs.

Gov. Blunt has been instrumental in identifying and employing the use of alternative energy sources in Missouri. Last summer he signed the Green Power Initiative.

The Initiative has been heralded as the most important environmental legislation passed by the state in more than a decade. It decreases pollution from energy production by encouraging an increase in the use of renewable energy sources such as wind, hydroelectricity, solar power, hydrogen and biomass.

The legislation sets targets for utilities to meet: a four percent renewable energy target by 2012, eight percent by 2015 and 11 percent by 2020. The legislation also requires the Office of Administration to ensure that at least 70 percent of the new vehicles purchased for the state fleet are flex fuel and allows municipal landfills to accept yard waste in order to create bio-reactors which produce methane gas for use in energy production.

Missouri is home to the only state building in the nation with a platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.