Feds release energy assistance money

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, February 2, 2005

The U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services has released $100 million in emergency low-income home energy assistance program funds, including $1.4 million for Washington state.

Bill Beuscher, supervisor of Snohomish County’s Energy Assistance Program, estimated that the county could receive about $70,000.

“This additional amount will be sufficient to help more than 200 more households with their utility bills,” he said.

As of Tuesday, 2,254 Snohomish County households had received low-income energy assistance funds, he said. About 2,250 households in the county are waiting for energy assistance, Beuscher said.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., on Wednesday applauded the Health and Human Service Department’s decision.

Last Thursday, Cantwell and other senators asked the Bush administration to release the full $200 million in energy assistance the administration had at its disposal. The administration responded to the call by releasing half the money.

“I’m glad the administration has responded to our call to help Washington families keep their lights and heat on,” Cantwell said. “There’s still enough money to help about 3,900 extra families in Washington state who continue to suffer unfairly from the fallout of the Western energy crisis. Helping them get through the winter is the least we can do.”

The energy assistance program provides federal funds to states every year to distribute to low-income families through local organizations.

In Washington state, an estimated 80 percent of the families eligible for assistance last year were unable to get it.