On Tuesday, the Boise City Council will consider staff recommendations for how to spend $2.04 million coming to Boise from the federal stimulus package.

"That money is ours as long as we spend it in the right way," Mike Zuzel, assistant to the mayor, said Monday.

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants provide funding for projects that will increase energy efficiency and reduce consumption and costs.

The city has to send its electronic applications to the federal government by June 25.

The city anticipates receiving half the money by the end of August, said Ross Borden, director of intergovernmental affairs.

Boise's $2.04 million is 12 percent of the nearly $17 million Idaho will receive in energy efficiency grants, more than any other city or county because of its population, Borden said.

Meridian is slated to receive $608,800 in energy efficiency grants, Nampa $753,800 and Caldwell $169,800.

Nine staff members came up with the recommendations, which are projects that departments would undertake if they had the money, Zuzel said.

The list offers some good educational opportunities, Council President Maryanne Jordan said.

For example, people are interested in solar panels and green roofs but might hesitate to try them until they see a demonstration, which the city could provide.

Council Pro Tem Alan Shealy liked the cogeneration plant proposed at the West Boise water treatment facility. The plant would produce heat and electricity from burning the methane gas created by the wastewater treatment process.

He also liked the LED lighting project.

"It's pretty low-hanging fruit," he said. "We have a company here that does the work, and if we can get a grant, it'll keep the money in Boise.

The full council will meet in a work session at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Here are the top 10 projects the city may submit, based on how much energy will be saved.

1. Retrofit energy-efficient lighting at five city parks: $5,300

Retrofit lighting at Ann Morrison Park shop, Fort Boise Community Center, Julia Davis shops and Morris Hill Cemetery.

Will get extra savings from Idaho Power's Easy Upgrades program, which offers incentives for energy reduction and can provide rebates of about 25 cents for every dollar spent.

2. Build a cogeneration plant at the West Boise waste water treatment facility: $430,200

The grant will provide about half the funding needed to build part of a 1-megawatt cogeneration facility fueled by digester methane gas.

The electricity produced and the recovered heat from the cogeneration equipment will reduce the facility's reliance on electricity produced by fossil fuels and provide long-term, ongoing energy savings.

3. Retrofit energy efficient lighting at 13 fire stations: $43,700

Will use Idaho Power's Easy Upgrades program.

4. Adopt 2009 International Energy Conservation Code: $21,000

City-sponsored training for contractors, architects, staff and other construction professionals to learn the codes.

5. Reimburse city funding for connecting the city's geothermal system with the state's Capitol Mall system: $210,000

State contribution is $170,000.

Project has already been bid; construction is expected to be complete by Sept. 15.

6. Residential energy audits and measures (partner with Idaho Power): $400,000

Proposal will fund home energy audits and installation of low-cost energy saving measures, such as wrapping water heaters and pipes, in nearly 700 homes in 18 months.

Home audit will qualify residents for other weatherization programs offered by the city and Idaho Power. Idaho Power has agreed to contribute $5,000 to this project.

7. Convert about 725 historic, 150-watt, high pressure sodium street lights to LED technology: $446,300

Streetlights are Downtown, between 4th and 12th streets from the river to State Street, as well as on Capitol Boulevard north of University Drive and around the Ada County Courthouse.

Conversion is estimated to achieve 50-60 percent electricity savings. This is about half the city's historic streetlights.

8. Adding to Housing and Community Development energy retrofit revolving loan fund: $400,000

Anticipates 14 loans per year of about $7,000 each for homeowners to make their homes more energy-efficient.

Of the loans, 51 percent will target Boise residents within 80 percent of the average area median income range.

Households that use these loans must agree to have their energy use recorded 12 months before and 12 months into the program.

9. NeighborWoods, city forester: $18,100

Would offer about 250 trees to property owners in neighborhoods underserved by current street tree program for planting on private property adjacent to public streets.

Parks and Rec would approve sites to assure the appropriateness of the location on a resident's property.

The city's existing tree population provides an annual average of $14.26 per tree in energy savings, mostly from shade, according to the city's 2007 Municipal Forest Resource Analysis.

10. Purchase and install solar panels with net metering or hot water heating on city property: $64,600

Net metering allows electricity that isn't used by the city to go onto the grid. The value of that energy would be subtracted from the city's electricity bill.

Bethann Stewart: 377-6393