Rep. Matsui Votes for Legislation to Create Jobs and Cut Utility Costs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 6, 2010
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Home Star Rebate Program Offers Opportunity to Continue Sacramento's Green Growth
Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D Sacramento) joined with her colleagues in supporting H.R. 5019, The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, which passed the House by a vote of 246 161. The Home Star program will create two rebates for Sacramento homeowners that seek to reduce their energy consumption: the Silver Star program and the Gold Star Program. Spurring homeowners to upgrade their home appliances and improve their efficiency will cut the consumer's utility costs and drive American manufacturing to create jobs.
Sacramento's local businesses and consumers have put our region on the map as an innovator in clean energy technology, said Rep. Matsui. Like many Sacramentans, I have seen firsthand that installing energy efficient appliances can lower our energy bills. In the face of continued budget cuts across California, this program would offer working families an opportunity to make investments that will help their bottom line, and in turn help spur the demand needed to create local jobs and improve our regional economy.
It is estimated that up to three million American families would participate in either the Silver Star or Gold Star rebate programs to ease the financial burden of upgrades and replacements of inefficient or outdated home appliances and fixtures if this legislation is enacted and signed by the President. This would save American families a projected $9.2 billion on their energy bills over the next 10 years or $200-$500 per participating family per year.
As our nation moves toward a more energy efficient economy, it is critical that we adopt policies that enable us to become the world leader in promoting smart energy use and manufacturing energy efficiency products, Rep. Matsui said today on the House floor arguing in support of this legislation. While our nation continues its economic recovery, we must continue to focus on job creation. The Home Star Rebate would create almost 170,000 jobs nationwide and help tackle the current 25 percent unemployment rate in the construction sector. By increasing energy efficiency, we will not only create jobs and incentivize the emerging clean technology industry but also reduce carbon pollution and cut costs for consumers.
The Silver Star program provides up-front rebates for specific energy-saving investments including insulation, duct sealing, windows and doors, air sealing and water heaters at the time of sale. Homeowners electing to participate in Silver Star will receive up to $1,500 per improvement, with a total eligible rebate of up to $3,000. Gold Star rewards homeowners who conduct a comprehensive energy audit and implement measures to reduce energy use, backed by a quality assurance program. Homeowners can receive $3,000 for a demonstrated savings of 20 percent, plus an additional $1,000 for each additional five percent energy savings up a possible total of $8,000.
To date, Sacramento has received over $230 million in energy efficiency and clean technology grants through the Recovery Act. This bill would build on the roughly $11 million in Recovery Act funded energy audits and energy efficiency upgrades in residential and commercial buildings.
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