County seeks to publish ordinance to accept $835,000 SEED block grant for home energy upgrades

The Santa Fe County Board of County Commissioners voted May 27 to authorize publication of the title and general summary of an ordinance that would allow the county to accept a Community Energy Efficiency Development Block Grant (SEED) from the New Mexico State Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

"We were awarded the grant, and we were re rewarded at a 16.5 reduction," Will Donahue, sustainability division staff in the county's community development department, told the board, summarizing the award amount as $835,000 for the program. Donahue said the program will target about 42 low‑income households (those at or below 80% of area median income) and that the program expects an average allocation of $16,000 per household.

Under the SEED program the county plans envelope and building‑system improvements — door and window replacements, air sealing, insulation, heat pumps, smart thermostats and energy‑efficient appliances — and an allocated health and safety allowance for incidental repairs and remediation. Donahue said the county will implement SEED alongside its existing Home Rehabilitation and Energy Efficiency (HREE) program so households may combine HREE funding and SEED funds, expanding the maximum assistance per household.

Donahue told the board the grant estimates roughly a 32% average reduction in household energy use and a 23% reduction in household energy cost, equating to an average annual savings of about $340 per household. He also told the board the SEED grant prohibits solar installations for this award.

The motion before the board was to publish the ordinance title and summary; the board voted in favor and the item will return later if the full ordinance is adopted.