Any Creative Ideas to Spend Stimulus Funds?

According the the agenda for the April 27 Brentwood City Commission Meeting, the City has been notified that as part of the federal stimulus act the Department of Energy is offering Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants to states, counties, and cities.

Brentwood, based on population size, is eligible for $164,500 just for completing the application. It's not a competitive grant. Ask and you shall receive. So, the city staff is recommending using the funds in the following manner:

"Staff is recommending that grant funding be utilized to secure an independent consultant/engineer to conduct an energy audit of city facilities and operations to develop a list of energy efficiency initiatives prioritized in terms of both return on investment and energy savings. While electricity is the largest energy expense, the audit would cover all energy sources. The overall results of this study would then serve as the basis of the grant required energy efficiency and conservation strategy (EECS) as well as the budget for the use of the remaining grant funds and future CIP funding if the return on investment was reasonable."

Grant applications are due June 25 so there is some time to consider how to best utilize the funds. The DOE even offers some guidance in ways the funds could be spent including:

Grants to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies for the purpose of performing Energy Efficiency Retrofits.  (*Requires some additional paperwork)

Material Conservation Programs including source reduction, recycling, and recycled content procurement programs that lead to increases in energy efficiency.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants Home Page details how activities should be prioritized in planning for use of the funds including:

Energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy programs and projects are building blocks for increased economic vitality, energy security, and environmental quality. EECBG program funds will have maximum impact if invested in ways that create and/or retain jobs and stimulate the economy in the short term while laying the foundation for a long-term and sustainable clean energy economy. DOE encourages grantees to prioritize programs and projects that:

Leverage other public and private resources

Enhance workforce development

Persist beyond the funding period

Watchdog thinks a consultant and energy audit of city buildings could be part of the plan but aren't there some more creative ways to leverage the funds with public and private resources and/or by working with non-profit organizations? Won't power companies conduct basic energy audits for free or for very minimal cost? Are there some original ideas for how to use these funds to stimulate the economy in addition to the consultant/audit approach? Even ways to generate additional funds down the road?

Got any ideas? Lets hear 'em!!