Stimulus funds for energy improvements to Warren County-owned buildings are now aimed at replacing windows and light fixtures instead of air conditioning units.

A population-based allocation of $212,800 is available to Warren County as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program from U.S. Department of Energy. In all, 19 cities and counties are listed by the Mississippi Development Authority as “entitlement communities” eligible for the funds — chosen based on whether a city or county is among the top 10 highest populations according to 2007 population estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Buildings with west-facing windows such as Warren County-Vicksburg Public Library on Veto Street and the Board of Supervisors building on Jackson Street are prime candidates for spending money sent locally out of about $2.8 billion available to Mississippi.

Items mentioned previously by supervisors, specifically compressors for cooling and heating units atop the Warren County Courthouse and the annex across Grove Street, will now be funded by dollars on hand, as will library funding for interior painting and carpeting.

“There’s nothing wrong with our HVAC system (in the courthouse),” Board President Richard George said. “It’s the compressor that’s out.”

Nine counties will receive the Energy Department funds geared to promoting energy efficiency and fighting greenhouse gas emissions in government buildings. Rankin County is listed at the highest allocaton, with $577,500. Among cities, Jackson is marked for more than $1.7 million with Gulfport second at $666,000. Vicksburg is not among the listed cities.

An initial round of $12.5 million in transportation funding in March specified 12 road projects across the state. None were in Warren County. Officials have said high-priority road resurfacing and bridge replacements could qualify only if additional money from MDOT is made available.

Inside Vicksburg, segments of Clay Street, Indiana Avenue and Wisconsin Avenue will be resurfaced if applications for more than $940,000 in stimulus funds are approved.

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Contact Danny Barrett Jr. at dbarrett@vicksburgpost.com