Government buildings across Rhode Island should become more energy efficient and cost less to operate, if $14.5 million in federal stimulus money earmarked for such efforts does its work.

The Governor’s Office of Economic Recovery and Reinvestment’s energy review team invited municipal leaders to a meeting Thursday night at Rhode Island College to discuss plans to distribute the federal money.

The money is part of $58 million for energy initiatives that the federal government has pledged to Rhode Island. Some $20 million is going to weatherization programs and $24 million to new programs still being considered by state officials.

The so-called Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, according to a Department of Energy Web site, “represents a presidential priority to invest in the cheapest, cleanest and most reliable energy technologies we have — energy efficiency and conservation — which can be deployed immediately.”

The money will be distributed through spending formulas and competitive grants.

Andrew Dzykewicz, vice chairman of the energy review team and commissioner for the Governor’s Office on Energy Resources, also was expected to give a presentation at Thursday’s meeting on performance contracting — a system in which building owners can install energy-efficient systems with no upfront costs. They do so by contracting with an energy service company, which is paid from the proceeds of future energy savings during the following 7 to 20 years.

Only four companies are registered with the state to provide such services, according to an energy office brochure. They are Siemens, NORESCO, CON/ED and Chevron. Registrations are pending for Honeywell, Trane and Johnson Controls.

Such companies provide high-efficiency lighting, heating and air conditioning and motors and centralized energy-management systems designed to reduce energy costs by 20 to 40 percent.

In a letter to community leaders, Jeffrey Seemann, co-chairman of the energy review team, said the goal throughout Rhode Island is to create and retain jobs, and realize energy savings.

He said a final version of the state spending plan must be submitted to the federal Department of Energy by June 25.

plord@projo.com