Washington - U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced a total of $1,772,700 in funding for seven New Jersey municipalities from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, which he created as part of energy legislaiton in 2007. The program supports municipal energy-saving initiatives and improves energy efficiency in transportation, buildings, and other sectors. It will deliver a total of $73 million to New Jersey cities, towns and counties through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. New Jersey municipalities receiving funding today include:

· The City of Passaic -- $613,800
· Township of Washington (Gloucester) -- $467,400
· Vineland (Cumberland) -- $250,000
· Township of Woodbridge (Middlesex) -- $250,000
· Township of Montclair (Essex) -- $155,000
· Township of Howell (Monmouth) -- $20,000
· Township of Franklin (Somerset) -- $16,500

"Making our hometowns as energy efficient as possible is important to our economic recovery and to laying the foundation for long-term economic security," said Menendez. "These investments will help create jobs, cut energy costs, save taxpayers money and clean the air we breathe. This is a program I am proud to have created, because these are the types of hometown investments that make a real difference for New Jersey families."

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