ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE STIMULUS PLAN
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Plan) directs almost a third of the spending part of the plan towards energy efficiency. Listed below is a summary with dollar amounts of energy efficiency initiatives targeted in the Plan:
- State Energy Programs – $3.1 billion for grants and funding to state energy offices.
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant programs – $3.2 billion to assist local governments in implementing energy efficiency and conservation programs.
- Loan Guarantees – $6 billion for the Innovative Technology and Loan Guarantee Program.
- Research and Development – $400 million for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.
- Green Jobs – $540 million for research, labor exchange, Job Corps Centers, and training for careers in energy efficiency.
- Green Schools – $9 billion for modernization, renovation, and repair of public school facilities that follow green building guidelines.
- Federal Buildings – $8.5 billion to make federal buildings greener and more energy efficient.
- Weatherization Assistance Program – $5 billion for the weatherization of low-income family homes.
- Assisted Housing – $6 billion to increase energy efficiency in Section 8 housing, to support the Public Housing Capitol Fund, for the HOME Investment Partnerships program, and for Native American housing block grants.
- Electricity Grid – $11 billion to modernize our national electricity grid.
- Energy Efficient Appliance Rebates – $300 million for the Energy Star program.
- Public Transportation and Rail – $17 billion for high speed rail and public transit.
- Advanced Batteries – $2 billion for grants to help U.S. companies in the manufacturing of advanced vehicle battery systems.
- Plug-In Electric Vehicles – $400 million for the Plug-In Electric vehicle Program.
- Alternative Transportation – $600 million to assist local governments acquire alternative fuel vehicles and reduce diesel emissions.
- Federal Fleet – $300 million to replace federal fleet with more efficient vehicles.
- Existing Homes Tax Credit – Extends and increases the value of the credit to 30% of cost up to $1500 for 2009 and 2010 for property meeting certain energy efficiency standards.
- Investment Tax Credit – Removes the $2,000 cap on the 30% credit for solar thermal and geothermal property, as well as the $4,000 cap on small wind property.
- Energy Conservation Bonds – Increases and expands the bond limitation on energy conservation bonds by $2.4 billion.
- Advanced Energy Investment Credit – Establishes a new 30% investment tax credit for the manufacture of advanced energy property to include production of renewable energy, energy storage, energy conservation, carbon capture, and efficient technology transmission.
IMPORTANT WEBSITES
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_tax_credits Energy efficiency tax credits
http://www.dsireusa.org/ Database of State incentives for renewables and efficiency
http://ase.org/content/article/detail/5388 A summary of energy efficiency in the Stimulus Plan
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h1enr.pdf Full text of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Stimulus Plan)
NEW AECP MEMBERS
- Toler Insulating Company
- Architectural Alternatives
- Virginia Foam Insulators
- Gregory Enterprises, LLC DBA National Property Inspections
- Window Max, Inc.
- E-Power Wheels of Roanoke
- Solar Connexion
- Cundiff Heating and Air Conditioning
- The Lodge at Lick Creek Lane
Check out the AECP website at www.aecp.org to learn more about all of our AECP members.
10 th ANNUAL AECP GREEN LIVING AND ENERGY EXPO
The 10 th annual Green Living and Energy Expo has been scheduled for November 6 and 7, 2009 at the Roanoke Civic Center. The past event was a major success with 90 exhibits and over 2500 people attending.