Efficiency First

The New York Times reports that energy panels in the House and Senate will hold hearings this week focusing on efficiency standards and incentives, including the proposed HOME STAR program introduced last week in the Senate. Here’s an excerpt from yesterday’s Greenwire report:

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) is a champion for energy efficiency and has pushed stakeholders and focused his staff on improving standards across the board this session. He is also leading efforts to get energy efficiency tax incentives for home and commercial building included in the Democrats’ jobs agenda.

So far, Democrats have included a one-year credit extension of $1,000 to $2,000 for new energy efficient homes in the tax extenders bill the Senate is set to take up this week. Bingaman would like to put more efficiency incentives in future jobs bills and is hoping the two hearings may convince more of his colleagues, including ranking member Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).

Thursday, Bingaman’s panel will consider the “Home Star” program (also known as “Cash for Caulkers”) to provide rebates for upgrades to homes; “Building Star,” a similar program for commercial retrofits; and manufactured housing rebates. A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee will take up the issue on Friday.

Read the rest of the article here:
www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/03/08/08greenwire-democrats-to-turn-spotlight-on-energy-efficien-54735.html