House Introduces Bill Tying Tax Credit to ENERGY STAR® Standards
December 7, 2009

Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) introduced legislation (H.R. 4112) recently in the U.S. House of Representatives identical to the existing U.S. Senate legislation (S. 1792) introduced in October that would modify the requirements in the window tax credit. CLICK HERE for more on the Senate bill.

If passed the legislation would modify the window tax credit in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and tie it to 2010 ENERGY STAR standards instead of the .30/.30 requirements. It would apply to purchases made in 2010.

Groups such as the Glass Association of North America (GANA) and the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) have applauded passage of the bill.

"Historically, GANA has largely supported the ENERGY STAR program. Linking tax credits to benchmarks that do not line up with ENERGY STAR requirements adds to the uncertainty that the glazing industry has recently faced with regard to energy efficiency initiatives at state and federal levels," says Bill Yanek, GANA executive vice president. "What the glazing industry needs most now with regard to energy-efficiency requirements and government incentives is clarity. Linking tax credits to the ENERGY STAR program will add clarity to energy efficiency incentives."

"WDMA commends Congressman Yarmuth for introducing his bill, which will correct the one-size-fits-all approach of the current tax credit and help consumers purchase the most appropriate energy efficient windows, doors and skylights for their region of the country," says WDMA executive vice president Michael O'Brien. "Further, the legislation will allow American manufacturers to create more jobs and, as a result, provide a much-needed economic boost to the entire housing industry."

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

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