Arizona Prepares to Offer Over $200 Million to
Fund Home Energy Audits
PHOENIX, AZ, Apr 13, 2009 -- MARKET WIRE
The Arizona Solar Power Society invites residential customers and commercial
businesses to attend a special FREE Arizona Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy Community Outreach conference in Phoenix on April 16th at 10:30 am.
The purpose of the conference is to educate the general public on the
societal benefits of reducing energy consumption and helping utility
companies avoid the costs of building capital intensive, carbon-based power
plants, and reducing harmful carbon emissions that contribute to global
warming.
"We are committed to dramatically increasing the amount of energy efficiency
programs available in Arizona, because we know the "negawatt" -- energy we
don't use -- is the cheapest energy of all," said Kris Mayes, Arizona
Corporation Commission Chairman. "Ramping up energy efficiency will also
create thousands of quality green collar jobs for our state during these
tough economic times."
Mayes added, "The ACC has allocated $37 million for energy efficiency
efforts by the state's investor owned utilities on behalf of their
customers. These dollars have resulted in various demand side management
projects ranging from assisting business owners in reducing energy
consumption through retrofit renovations, to working with individual
consumers in providing financial assistance for the purchase of energy
efficient devices and appliances."
In addition to the $37 million waiting for customers in the utility demand
side management and energy efficiency incentive programs, Arizona is set to
receive $63 million via a Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and
Conservation Block Grant program. Another DOE program plans to spend $112
million on a Weatherization Assistance Program and an Arizona State Energy
Programs. All of these programs provide money and rebates to assist
homeowners and businesses that want to make their homes and business parks
more energy efficient.
In unison with more money flowing into energy efficiency and renewable
energy programs, the Arizona Legislature also has been working on a number
of bills to streamline renewable energy and energy efficiency installation
practices, build state programs to finance these projects and pass tax
incentive programs that will stimulate economic development and create green
collar jobs.
"Our proactive Water and Energy Committee works closely with numerous
industry-leading installation companies and manufacturing operations to
learn what problems need to be addressed to ensure rapid deployment of
renewable energy and energy efficiency projects," stated Arizona House
Representative Lucy Mason, Chairman of Arizona's Water and Energy Committee.
"To meet these challenges, I have authored over 35 bills in the last 6 years
and co-sponsored other important bills. This year I introduced HB2329,
HB2332, HB2335, HB2336, HB2337, HB2341 and SB1403. The emphasis for any of
these bills is the creation of green collar jobs, increased demand for
sustainable buildings and relocation of new energy technology such as power
generation or manufacturing."
"There has never been a better time for consumers and businesses to reduce
their energy consumption via home and business energy efficiency upgrades,"
said Jeff Schlegel, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP). "In the
past, many businesses and consumers have recognized the need to implement
energy efficiency, but simply could not afford it. However, now that
millions of dollars are available via utility incentive programs and federal
stimulus funding for energy efficiency projects, the time for customers to
make these important changes is right now, while the money is available."
"Energy efficiency community outreach programs like this one are a very
important part of our customer education process," commented Linda Douglas-Worthey,
Tucson Electric Power. "We would like to invite all of our customers to
attend this event to learn more about our existing residential and
commercial demand side management and energy efficiency incentive programs
and to hear about new programs planned for the future."
"Smart choices based on overall energy efficiency and total carbon footprint
will benefit all Arizonans and can make us the model for the rest of the
nation," said Don Soderberg, Southwest Gas Corporation/Vice
President/External Affairs.
"Energy efficiency is the first step in making Arizona a better place to
breathe," said Robert Hoskins, Arizona Solar Power Society. "Using less
electricity also provides customers with a quicker return on investment when
they install a solar system."
Residential customers will learn how to use utility incentive programs to
pay for home energy audits; the benefits of buying energy efficient products
such as CFL light bulbs and Energy Star electric/gas appliances and how to
seal up leaking building energy envelopes by weatherizing doors and windows
and adding insulation and radiant barriers to keep energy inside where it
belongs.
Commercial customers will learn how to use utility incentive programs to pay
for commercial building energy audits and the benefits of installing more
efficient lighting systems, motors, heating and air conditioning systems and
how to produce their own power with co-generation power plants.
Marketing tables are available for $200 for vendors that want to handout
energy efficiency marketing literature on home energy audits, energy star
appliances, utility incentive programs, and weatherization installation
companies.
Speakers will include:
The FREE event is being held at the Desert Willow Conference Center in
Phoenix on April 16, 2009 at 10:30 am. The conference will also be broadcast
live on the internet and recorded for future playback to educate the general
public energy efficiency products and utility incentive programs.
Webcast:
http://ccsmediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=f24f931f-17e8-4834-9ae9-2b11e9e8b10a
Please RSVP yes online at
www.meetup.com/arizona-solar-power-society/calendar/9764298/ or by
sending an RSVP yes email to
rhoskins@frontpagepr.com .
The Arizona Solar Power Society is the largest solar association in Arizona
with more than 400 member companies.
SOURCE: Arizona Solar Power Society
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