WASHINGTON - The U.S. Energy and Treasury Departments on Tuesday announced $503 million in government cash grants to companies developing renewable energy projects.

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced the first round of awards from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) program that provides cash assistance to energy production companies in place of earned tax credits. The new funding creates additional upfront capital, enabling companies to create jobs and begin construction that may have been stalled until now.

The funding will help meet the Obama administration's goal of doubling U.S. renewable energy production over the next three years, creating jobs and providing financing on easier terms than many companies can obtain in the private sector.

This the first round of some $3 billion in direct payments to companies in lieu of tax credits to eventually support an estimated 5,000 biomass, solar, wind and other renewable energy production facilities.

"These grants will help America's businesses launch clean energy projects, putting Americans back to work in good construction and manufacturing jobs. The initiative will help double our renewable energy capacity over the next few years and make sure America leads the world in creating the clean energy economy of the future," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

The money comes from the economic stimulus package approved by Congress earlier this year.

Previously, energy companies could file for a tax credit to cover a portion of the costs of a renewable energy project. Under the new program, companies would forgo the tax credits in favor of an immediate reimbursement of a portion of the property expense.

"This renewable energy program will spur the manufacture and development of clean energy in urban and rural America, allowing us to protect our environment, create good jobs and revitalize our nation's economy," said Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.

Twelve projects were awarded grants. The companies receiving the most money were the Penascal wind farm ($114.1 million) in Sarita, Texas; the Locust Ridge II, LLC wind project ($59.2 million) in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania; the Canandaigua Power Partners, LLC wind project ($52.4 million) in Cohocton, New York, and the Wheat Field wind farm ($47.7 million) in Arlington, Oregon.

Iberdrola Renewables Inc., a subsidiary of Spain's Iberdrola SA, was awarded $294.9 million for five wind projects, bringing the company's investment so far in U.S. wind power to about $1 billion.

The 12 winning projects would be able to produce 840 megawatts of electricity, representing a 3 percent increase in total U.S. renewable electricity generation capacity, the Energy Department said. One megawatt powers about 800 homes.

The American Wind Energy Association welcomed the grants, which it said would help wind energy companies get through the recession.

"For these grantees and many other projects that are preparing their applications, we are seeing business activity picking up and turbine and parts orders being sent all the way up the value chain," said AWEA Senior Vice President for Public Policy Rob Gramlich. "That activity had all but dried up and it is very encouraging to see this turnaround under way."

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