Georgia Magazine - June 2010 - (Page 16)

SPECIAL ENERGY REPORT Energy-efficiency incentives from Congress Urge your congressman and senators to support the Rural Energy Savings Plan and Home Star hard-hit construction and manufacturing sectors, while saving consumers money on their energy bills. The bill provides $6 billion of incentives to Americans, coupled with private investment, to generate an estimated 3 million home retrofits and tens of thousands of jobs. I n 2010, the convergence of energy policy and federal efforts to create jobs has yielded several energy-efficiency proposals aimed at encouraging consumers to make energy-efficiency investments. Popular mechanisms include access to lower-cost capital, equipment and materials rebates, or tax credits. Georgia Electric Membership Corp. (EMC) believes these proposals have a great deal of merit. However, none of them quite fits some of the more rural areas typically served by electric cooperatives. Nationally, one out of seven electric cooperative consumers lives below the federal poverty line. The average cost ($1,500 and up) of energy-efficiency upgrades has deterred many from making their homes and businesses more efficient. This spring, a group of leaders in Congress introduced legislation creating the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), which would provide electric cooperative consumers with low-cost financing for targeted, energy-efficiency improvements to homes and businesses. “Jump-Start” grant of no more than 4 percent of the loan amount in some instances to provide service to the first consumers. • Co-ops and consumers work together to use RESP funds wisely The co-op will specify the efficiency measures it intends to implement and the expected savings for consumers. When the RUS loan is approved, the co-ops, in turn, provide the money in low-interest, microloans to consumer residences or businesses if an energy audit indicates potential for energy savings. Consumer loan amounts from the co-op may only be used to make energy-efficiency improvements to fixtures that stay with the house or business dwelling. Loans may not be used for appliances that do not remain with the structure, such as refrigerators and window air-conditioning units. Participating consumers repay the co-ops for the installation and material costs through a loan repayment charge on their utility bills within a 10-year window. The energy savings from the upgrade are projected to cover most, if not all, of the cost of the loan. Rebate programs • $1,000-$1,500 Silver Star rebates. Consumers can receive between $1,000 and $1,500 for each retrofit, not exceeding $3,000 or at least 50 percent of total project costs (whichever is less). Eligible measures include insulation, duct sealing, water heaters, heating, ventilating and airconditioning units, windows and doors. Rebates will target the most energy-efficient categories of upgrades, focusing on products primarily made in the U.S. A certified contractor must install all retrofits. • $3,000 Gold Star rebates. Consumers interested in whole-home retrofits would be eligible for up to $3,000 for a comprehensive energy audit and retrofits tailored to achieve a 20-percent home energy savings. Consumers can receive additional incentives for energy savings higher than 20 percent. The Gold Star rebate program would build on existing whole-home retrofit programs, such as EPA’s Home Performance with Energy Star program and DOE’s building programs. • Rebate process. Consumers are eligible for discounted prices of the installation of Silver Star measures at the point of sale. Visit www.congress.org or call (202) 225-3121 to contact your member of Congress in support of these important proposals to boost energy-efficiency potential across the country, reduce energy consumption and save consumers money at the same time! GEORGIA MAGAZINE H.R. 4785—New RUS lending program will boost co-ops’ efficiency efforts • RUS loans and ‘Jump-Start’ Grants The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) will administer the loan program at the heart of the Rural Energy Savings Program. RUS will be able to issue $4.9 billion in 10-year, zero-interest loans to individual coops or state-based groups of co-ops to fund low-interest (no more than 3 percent) loans to consumers and businesses. A co-op can also tap a 16 H.R. 5019—President Obama’s Energy-Efficiency Incentive Program—Home Star Home Star is legislation designed to create jobs by providing shortterm incentives for residential energy-efficiency improvements. H.R. 5019 was passed by the House of Representatives May 6, and awaits action by the U.S. Senate as this article goes to press. This program is intended to drive new private investment into the www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.congress.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - June 2010

Georgia Magazine - June 2010
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar
Currents
Special Energy Report
Winning Reader Stories
Honorable Mentions: More Vacation Stories
Georgia on a Budget
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Georgia Gardens
Gardening Tips
Georgia Cooks
Cookbook of the Month
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - June 2010