Consumers would collect on-the-spot rebates of $1,000 or more for buying insulation, water heaters or other equipment to make their homes burn energy more efficiently under a rebate program President Barack Obama is promoting.
Obama traveled to Savannah, Ga., on Tuesday to outline the Home Star program, which was left out of the jobs bill in December. Obama called for energy rebates in his State of the Union address, and officials hope the plan will be as popular as last year’s Cash for Clunkers money-back program for autos.
Obama stopped at Savannah Technical College to visit students who are learning how to install insulation and other equipment.
“We should put more Americans to work building clean energy facilities — and give rebates to Americans who make their homes more energy-efficient, which support clean energy jobs,” Obama said in January.
“These are the skills that will help our country produce and use energy,” he said Tuesday in Savannah. “We have the potential to create millions of jobs in the sector.”
He has said shifting the U.S. toward cleaner, renewable sources of energy and making homes — particularly older houses — more energy-efficient will help accomplish three goals: reducing America’s dependence on foreign energy sources, creating much-needed jobs and saving consumers money on their utility bills.
The new program has two levels of rebates. Various vendors, ranging from small, independent contractors to national home improvement chains, would promote the rebates, give the money to consumers and then wait for reimbursement from the federal government.
Some details of the program, including how long it will run and its total cost, remain to be worked out with Congress, according to senior administration officials.
Obama said the steps to renew homes — such as installing new water heaters, insulation, windows, roofs and doors will have a price tag — but will create the energy the country needs and provide employment for construction workers and contractors.
Source: The Associated Press
