OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Statements On Introduced Bills And Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

Date: June 11, 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Energy Natural Resources

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By Mr. SANDERS:

S. 1246. A bill to establish a home energy retrofit finance program; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce legislation to establish a Home Energy Retrofit Finance Program. My office has worked closely with a number of stakeholders and experts in developing this Program. It is supported by the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Green for All, the Apollo Alliance, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, because they know that improving residential sector energy use is a strategy to address global warming, save families on their utility bills, and create jobs.

Households across the Nation will be able to lower their energy bills and generate their own renewable energy through the Program. It would provide initial capital to States, according to the established State energy program formula, to set up state revolving finance funds. These State funds would in turn provide financial support for local government programs, such as clean energy district financing, and energy utility programs, such as on-bill financing.

There are already a number of innovative programs to help finance residential energy efficiency and renewable energy across the country. For example, States such as Vermont, New Mexico, California, Virginia, Texas, and Maryland have authorized local governments to provide financing to homeowners for energy improvements. Homeowners then can pay back the cost of the improvements over time on their property tax bills.

The Home Energy Retrofit Finance Program would give these efforts a boost by supporting local government and utility programs that provide households with cost-effective financing for energy efficiency measures and renewable energy. This Program offers a win-win situation where we can achieve our economic and environmental goals. I ask that my colleagues consider the merits of the Home Energy Retrofit Finance Program as we move forward with comprehensive energy and climate change legislation.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be printed in the Record

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