Commissioners Tuesday signed a Notice of Award, accepting $238,100 in grant money from the Department of Energy for several projects in the county.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant will provide funds to convert lighting systems at the fairgrounds, county shop and landfill to energy-efficient lighting, saving the county thousands each year in utility costs. The county will also utilize Idaho Power financial assistance in making the retrofits.

Additionally, funds have been awarded to purchase a nitrogen generator, which will be used to fill the tires of the vehicles in the county fleet, providing them with longer life, and better gas mileage.

Funds will also be used to help the county purchase two hybrid vehicles for the county fleet.

The bulk of the funding will be utilized at Celebration Park, as the park converts to solar energy, with a goal of going completely off the power grid, and running solely on solar power. As Celebration Park is heavily utilized by school groups, the county is optimistic that the solar powered buildings will be a learning tool for the groups.

Projects funded by the EECBG Grant must utilize American-made materials, and any contractors must be paid Davis-Bacon Act wages.