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Stimulus Benefits for Co-op Members

While having an energy efficient home has widespread appeal, finding ways to fund needed energy efficiency improvements can be difficult during hard economic times.

President Obama has signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly referred to as the stimulus bill. The bill contains numerous energy components, including some that could assist utility customers improve the energy efficiency of their homes. The stimulus bill includes:

  • $300 million for a grant program that provides assistance for energy efficiency consumer appliance rebates.
  • Homeowner efficiency and renewable tax credits, including tax credit for high efficiency heating, air conditioning and heat pumps.
  • $3.1 billion for state energy offices for a wide variety of energy efficiency and conservation improvements.
  • $3.2 billion for state and local government for energy efficiency block grants.
  • $5 billion in funds to weatherize homes for eligible homeowners.

As information on the stimulus package becomes available, it will be posted here. It is not certain at this time how the stimulus money will be administered, but one possibility could be through existing state government entities. Electric cooperatives will also partner with state and local government and other entities to assist with the delivery of stimulus funds for which rural Kansans may be eligible.

Updated information is now available from the State Energy Office at http://www.kcc.state.ks.us/energy/arra.htm

Apart from the stimulus bill, rural Kansans have access to a USDA program that can assist with the costs of an energy efficiency project. The 2008 Farm Bill contains a program called Rural Energy for America (REAP) Section 9007.The program is to assist ag producers and rural small business to make energy efficiency improvements. A notice should be issued regarding the funding availability at any time. If businesses are interested, they should start evaluating the program right away so they can get a quality project application submitted in the near future. EE projects in Kansas have been concentrated in the areas of improvements or heating and cooling units, lighting, insulation, or refrigeration units. Grants for EE projects under this program cannot exceed 25 percent of eligible project costs with a minimum grant of $1,500 and maximum grant of $250,000. If you are interested in this, any of the USDA Area Offices — located in Hays, Manhattan, Iola, Newton, or Garden City — can help answer questions.The agency will be holding workshops in the near future.

For more information on programs available from USDA, visit their website at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill/index.html

For details on how the right appliances can help you cut your electric bills, visit www.energystar.gov.

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