Secretary Chu Announces Nearly $300 Million Rebate Program
To Encourage Purchases Of Energy Efficient Appliances (The Associated Press) - Jul 14
>
> U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced
> the availability of nearly $300 million in funding from the American
> Recovery and Reinvestment Act for state-run rebate programs for
> consumer purchases of new ENERGY STAR qualified home appliances. The
> new program underscores the Obama Administration's commitment to make
> American homes more energy efficient, while helping to support the
> nation's economic recovery.
>
> Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there's
> enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every
> month, said Secretary Chu. These rebates will help families make the
> transition to more efficient appliances, making purchases that will
> directly stimulate the economy and create jobs.
>
> The new funding will be awarded to states and territories,
> through their energy offices, using a formula set forth in the Energy
> Policy Act of 2005. Each state or territory is required to submit a
> plan that specifies which ENERGY STAR appliance categories will be
> included in their rebate program, the rebate level for each product
> type, how the rebates will be processed, and their plan for recycling
> old appliances. States and territories must first file an initial
> application expressing their intent to participate by August 15, 2009,
> followed by a full application by October 15, 2009.
> Approximately 10-25 percent of each award will be spent on
> administrative costs.
>
> States and territories will receive 10 percent of the funds after
> submitting the initial application with the balance awarded after
> their program plans are approved. DOE anticipates that a vast majority
> of funding will be awarded by November 30, 2009. The complete Funding
> Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number DE-
> FOA-0000119 can be viewed at grants.gov. View the funding allocations
> for each state and territory.
>
> Eligible Appliances States have the flexibility to select which
> residential ENERGY STAR qualified appliances to include in their
> programs and the individual rebate amount for each appliance. DOE
> recommends that states and territories focus their program efforts on
> heating and cooling equipment, appliances, and water heaters as these
> products offer the greatest energy savings potential. ENERGY STAR
> qualified appliance categories eligible for rebates include:
> central air conditioners, heat pumps (air source and geothermal),
> boilers, furnaces (oil and gas), room air conditioners, clothes
> washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, and water heaters.
>
> The Recovery Act appropriated funds for the program to help
> achieve the national goals of spurring economic growth, creating jobs,
> saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. States and
> territories can use these funds to leverage the utility companies and
> energy efficiency program sponsors in their area.
>
> This program will also leverage the power of the ENERGY STAR
> program, a well-known labeling program that helps consumers make
> energy smart choices by identifying the most energy efficient
> products. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental
> Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that covers more
> than 60 product categories and is supported by a network of almost 600
> utility and state and government partners serving more than 74 million
> households, over 2,000 retail partners representing more than 27,000
> storefronts, and 2,645 manufacturers of ENERGY STAR qualified
> products.
>
> For more information on these and other Recovery Act related
> funding opportunities, visit Energy.gov/recovery.
>
>
>
> U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced
> the availability of nearly $300 million in funding from the American
> Recovery and Reinvestment Act for state-run rebate programs for
> consumer purchases of new ENERGY STAR qualified home appliances. The
> new program underscores the Obama Administration's commitment to make
> American homes more energy efficient, while helping to support the
> nation's economic recovery.
>
> Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there's
> enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every
> month, said Secretary Chu. These rebates will help families make the
> transition to more efficient appliances, making purchases that will
> directly stimulate the economy and create jobs.
>
> The new funding will be awarded to states and territories,
> through their energy offices, using a formula set forth in the Energy
> Policy Act of 2005. Each state or territory is required to submit a
> plan that specifies which ENERGY STAR appliance categories will be
> included in their rebate program, the rebate level for each product
> type, how the rebates will be processed, and their plan for recycling
> old appliances. States and territories must first file an initial
> application expressing their intent to participate by August 15, 2009,
> followed by a full application by October 15, 2009.
> Approximately 10-25 percent of each award will be spent on
> administrative costs.
>
> States and territories will receive 10 percent of the funds after
> submitting the initial application with the balance awarded after
> their program plans are approved. DOE anticipates that a vast majority
> of funding will be awarded by November 30, 2009. The complete Funding
> Opportunity Announcement (FOA) number DE-
> FOA-0000119 can be viewed at grants.gov. View the funding allocations
> for each state and territory.
>
> Eligible Appliances States have the flexibility to select which
> residential ENERGY STAR qualified appliances to include in their
> programs and the individual rebate amount for each appliance. DOE
> recommends that states and territories focus their program efforts on
> heating and cooling equipment, appliances, and water heaters as these
> products offer the greatest energy savings potential. ENERGY STAR
> qualified appliance categories eligible for rebates include:
> central air conditioners, heat pumps (air source and geothermal),
> boilers, furnaces (oil and gas), room air conditioners, clothes
> washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, and water heaters.
>
> The Recovery Act appropriated funds for the program to help
> achieve the national goals of spurring economic growth, creating jobs,
> saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. States and
> territories can use these funds to leverage the utility companies and
> energy efficiency program sponsors in their area.
>
> This program will also leverage the power of the ENERGY STAR
> program, a well-known labeling program that helps consumers make
> energy smart choices by identifying the most energy efficient
> products. ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental
> Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that covers more
> than 60 product categories and is supported by a network of almost 600
> utility and state and government partners serving more than 74 million
> households, over 2,000 retail partners representing more than 27,000
> storefronts, and 2,645 manufacturers of ENERGY STAR qualified
> products.
>
> For more information on these and other Recovery Act related
> funding opportunities, visit Energy.gov/recovery.
>
>