Schumer: Fed Economic Stimulus Bill to Include $2.9 Billion in Weatherization Funds - $109 Million to Go to Upstate NY; Will Create Thousands of Jobs And Reduce Home Heating Costs by Hundreds of Dollars Each Year

Press Release

SCHUMER: FED ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL TO INCLUDE $2.9 BILLION IN WEATHERIZATION FUNDS - $109 MILLION TO GO TO UPSTATE NY; WILL CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS AND REDUCE HOME HEATING COSTS BY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR

Schumer Joins Fight to More Than Double Weatherization Funds for Upstate NY Seniors and Families in Economic Stimulus Bill Currently Before the Senate

With Upstate New Yorkers Expected to Pay $8.4 Billion on Utility Bills This Year, Additional Funds Could Save Upstate New York Seniors and Families $800 Per Home, Per Year; Create 17,000 Upstate Jobs

Weatherization Funds Not Only Cheapest, Quickest Way to Reduce Fossil Fuel Consumption, But Also Has a Lasting Affect by Reducing Utility Bills and Creating Jobs

With Upstate New York seniors and families expected to pay a total of $8.4 billion on utility bills this year, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that the federal economic stimulus bill will include $109 million in weatherization funds for Upstate New York seniors and families to help reduce their sky-high home heating costs and create thousands of new jobs. Schumer said he is fighting to double that amount of money by cosponsoring an amendment by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) that would increase national weatherization funds in the stimulus from $2.9 billion to $6.2 billion nationally. The national increase would mean Upstate New York would receive a total of $232 million for families and seniors to weatherize their homes.

"These funds will be a win-win-win for Upstate New York - create thousands of new jobs, save thousands of families hundreds of dollars a piece and reduce our reliance on fossil fuels," Schumer said. "There is no better, cheaper or quicker way to move our state towards energy efficiency while also boosting our economy and saving residents money. This means money in the pocket for thousands of Upstate New Yorkers and I vow to keep fighting for more funds to help this much-needed program."

Since its inception in 1977, the Federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) has provided assistance to over 500,000 households in New York by installing energy conservation measures in income-eligible households, specifically targeting the elderly, the disabled and low-income families with children. The program reduces energy consumption - particularly of imported oil - and reduces the impact of high energy costs on seniors and families struggling to make ends meet. Funding for weatherization is especially vital in Upstate New York, where cold, snowy winters and hot, humid summers generate above-average demand for heating fuels and electricity for cooling. New York's housing stock is also one of the nation's oldest - 76 percent of New York's homes were built before 1970, when energy was cheap and accessible, and technology to produce energy-efficiency was unavailable. As new technologies have made weatherization possible, and energy prices have increased, Upstate New York's housing units have not kept up, meaning sky-high utility bills. On average, New York families spend $2,400 on utility expenses each year. For many residents of New York, this often means spending 15% or more of their monthly income on utility costs.

Schumer today announced that the federal economic stimulus package, which is currently being considered on the Senate floor, will deliver $2.9 billion nationally in weatherization funds, in addition to funding already allocated for FY2009. This would mean over $109 million for Upstate New York and an additional 8,000 jobs created in Upstate New York through this program alone. For every $1 million invested in weatherization funds, a total of 75 jobs are created. The funds will be delivered through the already-established New York State Weatherization Assistance Program, the state's application for weatherization funds and the guide for allocation of these federal funds.

While still a significant boost, Schumer today said that even more is needed to help the thousands of Upstate New York families weatherize their homes, save money on their home heating bills (making housing more affordable) and create thousands more jobs. Schumer has joined a fight by Senator Jack Reed to increase the amount of weatherization funds in the federal economic stimulus package from $2.9 billion to $6.2 billion nationally. This would more than double the amount of money sent to Upstate New York, bringing the total amount of funds in the stimulus for Upstate New York weatherization efforts to $232 million.

By more than doubling funding in the stimulus package, New York State can reach over 51,000 families and seniors in Upstate New York, saving over $41 million in utility bills. There are 588,000 households eligible for weatherization assistance in Upstate New York. More than 20 percent of the income eligible homes are elderly, 35 percent have children under the age of 18, and 10 to 15 percent house individuals with disabilities.

The numbers breakdown as follows:

* With the Reed-Schumer amendment, the Capital Region would receive $28.4 million to weatherize over 6,300 homes, saving $5,057,000 in utility expenses per year.
* With the Reed-Schumer amendment, Central New York would receive $35 million to weatherize over 7,700 homes, saving $6,213,000 in utility expenses per year.
* With the Reed-Schumer amendment, Hudson Valley would receive $41 million to weatherize over 9,100 homes saving $7,291,000 in utility expenses per year.
* With the Reed-Schumer amendment, the North Country would receive $23.2 million to weatherize 5,200 homes, saving $4,127,000 in utility expenses per year.
* With the Reed-Schumer amendment, the Rochester-Finger Lakes Region would receive $31.4 million to weatherize almost 7,000 homes, saving $5,575,000 in utility expenses per year.
* With the Reed-Schumer amendment, the Southern Tier would receive $23.9 million to weatherize over 5,300 homes, saving $4,259,000 in utility expenses per year.
* With the Reed-Schumer amendment, Western New York would receive $50 million to weatherize 11,100 homes, saving $8,886,000 in utility expenses per year.

Schumer today said that weatherization programs are the silver bullet to help reduce the burden of home energy expenses and energy consumption, as proper insulation can reduce bills by more than 23 percent, especially in Upstate New York's older homes. Schumer said that the investment in helping people weatherize their homes makes good fiscal sense as it will reduce dependence on other oversubscribed federal home heating programs like LIHEAP.

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