The Boise City Council on Tuesday approved staff recommendations on how to spend $2.04 million from the federal economic stimulus package.

The city has until June 25 to apply for the grant money.

Here are the projects the City Council approved:

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