The U.S. Department of Energy granted funds from the stimulus package to Michigan and Iowa on Monday to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects totaling more than $48 million.

Michigan was granted $32.8 million and will enact a program to reduce energy consumption in public buildings by 20 percent by 2012, establish green communities, create markets for renewable energy systems, and create sustainable jobs in energy efficiency and renewable energy sectors, the DOE said in a statement.

Iowa was granted $16.2 million and will expand the Building Energy Smart Iowa Program under the Iowa Office of Energy Independence (OEI).

"This funding will provide an important boost for state economies, help put Americans back to work, and move us toward energy independence,' said Secretary Steven Chu in a statement today.

The national program funding is intended to be spent at the local and state level for immediate economic impact, the department said today.

Michigan Energy