Issaquah Highland’s zHome project, the proponents of which last month announced would be delayed due to a lack of finance, may be in line for some of the federal stimulus package money.

The stimulus bill signed by President Obama last week includes over $60 million for high priority energy projects in Washington state.

Additionally, King County will receive a portion of the $3.2 billion assigned to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program.

Green building projects will also be able to compete for $400 million in competitive grants through the U.S. Department of Energy.

The development of the zHome project, which will be one of the nation’s first zero-net energy neighborhoods, has been identified as one of King County’s clean energy priorities.

The funding guidelines are designed to help local governments implement strategies to reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions.

zHome Project Manager Brad Liljequist told The Reporter this week that they were actively pursuing any available stimulus or grant money as a way to secure the project’s future.

“This bill was just signed last week, so at this stage everyone is still trying to figure out just how the money will be made available,” he said. “But we are really hopeful that projects like zHome might be recognized.”

“This project is custom made for the stimulus package.”

zHome will be one of the nation’s first zero-net energy neighborhoods.

Construction was scheduled to begin last September, but has been delayed as the builder seeks to secure financing during this difficult economic environment.

The project will cost $5 million to complete, and will be a 10 townhouse complex designed to use zero net energy in the course of a year — meaning the homes will produce as much energy as they use.

For more information on zHome, go to www.z-home.org.