Kentucky Congressman Stands up for Rural Energy Savings

Last week in Washington, D.C., a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators and Representatives introduced a bill that would help rural electric co-ops provide "on-bill" financing for energy saving programs.

The Rural Energy Savings Program Act would provide rural utilities, including the rural electric co-ops, with the means to help folks with the up-front costs of financing energy efficient upgrades to their homes; these utility customers would pay back the utilities on their bill with part of their savings.

Representative Ed Whitfield of western Kentucky is an original co-sponsor of the Act. "[I]t is essential we explore ways to improve energy efficiency and, in turn, better manage the demand for electricity,â€ Whitfield said. "Increasing our energy efficiency is one of the best proven ways to free up energy on our electricity grid. This bill is a win for American consumers and a win for improving energy efficiency across the country.â€

Whitfield is joined by members of Congress from throughout the U.S. and both political parties, as well as by the rural electric cooperatives themselves. Whitfield deserves thanks for stepping out in front on this issue that could be so beneficial to rural electric co-op members across the state. In addition to stopping the proposed coal burning Smith plant, the East Kentucky Power Cooperative could help its members even more with the loans for energy efficiency provided by this bill. It will help their customers save energy, save money, and help prevent further pollution, protecting the public health of Kentucky. If you live in Whitfield's district, you can email him (using the form at this link), or anyone can leave a message for him at his office in D.C. by calling (202) 225-3115. Let him know you appreciate his leadership on the Rural Energy Savings Program Act. 

According to the think tank, The Third Way, "This federal program, run through the Rural Utilities Service, [could] provide low-interest loans to 1.4 million rural households to make energy efficiency improvements, creating 25,000-35,000 jobs each year for the next ten years."

More information on what the Act would do:

Home weatherization improvements create jobs, lower emissions, and save money for consumers. But for most families, the upfront costs are too big and the payoff takes too long. This proposal would eliminate these barriers at a tiny cost to the federal government by providing rural homeowners low-interest loans through rural electric co-operatives. Homeowners would then repay the loans through their utility bills with the cost of the loan fully off-set by energy savings. And if they move, both the loan and the energy savings could be passed on to the next homeowner.

Even the rural electric co-ops, often resistant to progressive energy policy, is backing the bill. According to Hoosier Ag Today:

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association CEO Glenn English said, "This gives us an opportunity to keep the electric bills as low as we possibly can…it gives us the opportunity to avoid building power plants…which will be extremely expensive and have the potential of increasing electric bill costs to our membership.â€ [...] Typical loans will run between $1500 and $7000, and cover sealing, insulation, heat pumps, heating and ventilation, boilers, and roofs.

Stay tuned to this blog for more information on the bill and what other actions you might be able to take to help move the legislation forward.

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Links for more information:

• Grist: "How to provide relief to rural Americans, create jobs, and lower emissions ... all at once!"


• Press release from Senator Jeff Merkley, sponsor of the bill in the Senate.
  


• A good article in the Charleston (SC) Post & Courier on the bill: "Energy initiative to expand"
  


• The text of the bill from the Thomas Register.