Press Releases

(Washington, DC)— U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) today lauded House passage of the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, legislation that authorizes $6.6 billion in rebates for energy efficiency upgrades.

If fully funded, the legislation is estimated to create 168,000 construction and manufacturing jobs and save about 3 million American families as much as $500 a year on their energy bills.

Congresswoman Moore said, “The recession has devastated construction and manufacturing and tightened family budgets.  This bill is a win-win.  It’ll help create jobs to make homes more energy efficient and save families money on energy bills.”

The House-passed legislation authorizes two types of rebates and incentives for energy efficiency upgrades and renovations.

One provides up-front rebates for specific renovations, including insulation, windows and doors, and water heaters at the time of purchase.  This credit is worth up to $1,500 per improvement capped at $3,000 or 50 percent of the total project cost.  The other rewards the implementation of measures to reduce energy use following recommendations of an energy audit.  Consumers can receive $3,000 for energy savings of 20 percent with an additional $1,000 for every additional five percent energy savings.  This rebate is capped at $8,000 or 50 percent of the project cost.

The bipartisan legislation is supported by industry, labor, environmental and consumer groups.  It is supported by the National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Home Builders, Laborers’ International Union of North America, Natural Resources Defense Council and many others.  The bill passed the House by a vote of 246 to 161 and now goes to the Senate for consideration.

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For an interview with Congresswoman Gwen Moore, please contact David Frey at 202-225-4572.