Wednesday, Mar 20 2013 12:38PM

The DOI will launch three new energy projects to promote job growth and lower Americans' energy bills.

Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that three renewable energy initiatives were recently approved in both Nevada and California, which will supply jobs, clean energy resources and lower utility bills for residents. 

Two projects, 750-megawatt McCoy Solar Energy Project and 150-megawatt Desert Harvest Solar Farm, will begin in California, while the 200-megawatt Searchlight Wind Energy Project will be constructed in Clark County, Nevada. 

"These renewable energy projects reflect the Obama Administration's commitment to expand domestic energy production on our public lands and diversify our nation's energy portfolio," said Salazar. "In just over four years, we have advanced 37 wind, solar and geothermal projects on our public lands - or enough to power more than 3.8 million American homes. These projects are bolstering rural economies by generating good jobs and reliable power and strengthening our national energy security."

Improved energy efficiency and lower bills may help providing some financial relief for households that are already receiving affordable housing assistance. In some areas, such as Alaska, many residents are unable to afford median-priced homes because of the high energy bills that accompany the property. Many agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Agriculture are implementing programs to help improve energy efficiency and reduce costs for residents and businesses. 

Meanwhile, RCAC performs Certified Energy Audits for small water and wastewater utilities. This in turn helps make these facilities more energy-efficient, which helps reduce operational costs and is better for the environment.  

For more information, check out this resource: U.S. Department of the Interior