Energy Efficiency Policy Update: Transportation Reauthorization & Home Rebate Bills

During the month of March 2012, both Democratic and Republican legislators supported energy efficiency measures on transportation infrastructure and home retrofit rebates that – if enacted – would benefit consumers and businesses. Other recent energy efficiency policy news includes introduction of an energy-efficient technology bill in the House, Department of Energy (DOE) key appointments and support for PACE home retrofit financing programs.

Transportation Reauthorization Passes Senate, Stalls in House

• On March 14, the Senate passed “MAP-21," which reauthorizes transportation funding across the United States for the next two years. If passed, MAP-21 would take important steps to make our transportation systems more efficient.
• On March 29, Congress approved a 90-day, short-term extension for transportation funding that was set to expire. The extension gives House leaders until June 30 to revamp its own long-term bill, pass it and conference it with the Senate.

HOMES Act Introduced in House

• On March 21, Reps. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced their Home Owner Energy Savings (HOMES) Act of 2012 (H.R. 4230). The bipartisan bill establishes a program to provide consumers with rebates to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
• The HOMES Act rebate program would give $2,000 to $8,000 for home energy efficiency improvements on windows, insulation, HVAC units and air sealing.
• The HOMES Act has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as well as the Ways and Means Committee for consideration.

The Smart Energy Act Introduced in House

• Mid-February, Reps. Charles Bass (R-N.H.) and Jim Matheson (D-Utah) introduced the Smart Energy Act of 2012 (H.R. 4017). The bill would reduce barriers for government, businesses and consumers seeking to adopt off-the-shelf energy efficiency technologies that will save them money.

DOE Appointments Approved

• On March 29, the Senate approved four nominees to key DOE positions: David Danielson to be assistant secretary for EERE; LaDoris (Dot) Harris to be director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact; Charles McConnell to be assistant secretary for the Office of Fossil Energy; and Gregory Woods to serve as general counsel.

Alliance Supports Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

• On March 26, the Alliance to Save Energy and several co-signatories submitted comments to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) regarding the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking on PACE residential financing programs.