FIRST DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN ED WHITFIELD TEAMED UP WITH A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF LAWMAKERS WEDNESDAY TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD HELP BRING DOWN ENERGY COSTS FOR KENTUCKIANS, WHILE CREATING NEW JOBS AND IMPROVING ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
WHITFIELD JOINED WITH SEVERAL LEGISLATORS TO INTRODUCE A BILL WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH THE “RURAL ENERGY SAVINGS PROGRAM.” COMPANION LEGISLATION TO THIS BILL WAS ALSO INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE. THE BILL WOULD ESTABLISH A PROGRAM WHICH WOULD HELP PROVIDE LOANS TO HOMEOWNERS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TO MAKE BUILDING CHANGES WHICH WILL IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
THE LEGISLATION CREATES A LOAN PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S RURAL UTILITIES SERVICE WHICH WILL PROVIDE LOANS TO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES TO LEND MONEY TO RESIDENTIAL AND SMALL BUSINESS CONSUMERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENERGY SAVING RETROFITTING. THE BILL ALLOCATES $4.9 BILLION OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS TO BE LOANED OUT TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN PRIVATE HOMES AND BUSINESSES AND, AS A RESULT, LOWER COSTS FOR CONSUMERS.
THE PROGRAM IS EXPECTED TO CREATE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF NEW JOBS. ONCE ENACTED, THE “RURAL ENERGY SAVINGS PROGRAM” IS ANTICIPATED TO GENERATE MORE THAN 10,000 JOBS THIS YEAR ALONE. IN THE YEARS AHEAD, THE PROGRAM COULD EMPLOY, DIRECTLY AND NON-DIRECTLY, AS MANY AS 40,000 INDIVIDUALS IN A GIVEN YEAR.
E-Mail
Print
