 
Federal, State Government Provides Additional
Incentives for Energy-Efficient Retrofits
April 26, 2010
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on April 21 that up
to $28 million in funding is available to help states lower the
cost and increase the availability of energy-efficient retrofits.
The funding opportunity, administered by DOE's State Energy Program,
also will assist states in developing the necessary policy and program
frameworks to stimulate investment in cost-effective, long-term
energy efficiency deployments, especially in states that do not
currently have aggressive energy savings goals in place.
This competitive funding opportunity is targeted to state energy
offices (SEO), although DOE is encouraging those offices to partner
with market participants, including manufacturers.
Energy-efficient retrofits have for several months been a bright
spot for glass product suppliers and installers (CLICK
HERE for related story) and now DOE is planning to make up to
ten awards between $2 million to $5 million each for initiatives
that significantly increase the number of commercial and residential
building retrofits in a state or other defined market. States are
encouraged to partner with other market participants to leverage
resources and coordinate actions, with goals of enhancing the building
retrofit market and developing innovative financing programs and
strategies.
Applicants must demonstrate a comprehensive and sustainable approach
to providing retrofits in a defined region or market. The State
Energy Program is seeking projects that will overcome traditional
barriers to the broader deployment of retrofits, such as consumer
access to information and up-front costs of the investments. By
2013, selected projects are expected to achieve and sustain a goal
of retrofitting 2 percent of the buildings in the defined market
every year.
DOE expects to select and award cooperative agreements by September
30, 2010. Applications are due to by May 24, 2010. CLICK
HERE for more information on the funding.
California is among those states promoting energy-efficient retrofits.
DOE's announcement was issued the same that day Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger signed SB 77 by Senator Fran Pavley (D-Santa Monica)
to establish the statewide Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)
Reserve Program. The program will lower financing costs for businesses
and residences in California to make energy improvements through
retrofits, such as installing energy-efficient windows, on existing
properties. This legislation is intended to not only help increase
energy efficiency and lower energy costs for consumers, but also
create more than 10,500 jobs, according to Senator Pavley.
SB 77 creates another financing option for commercial and residential
property owners to make energy improvements using bonds and/or loans
that can be repaid through assessments added to their property tax
bill. The legislation establishes a state-financed reserve, through
the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing
Authority, of up to $30 million from the Renewable Resources Trust
Fund to implement the PACE Reserve Program.
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HERE to see interviews with industry experts on how glass can
improve energy efficiency.
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