Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District announced today that Nevada is eligible for nearly $2.5 million for a state-run rebate program for consumer purchases of new ENERGY STAR qualified home appliances.  The funds, which are made available by the Department of Energy, are part of $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“These rebates will help Nevada’s families invest in energy efficient appliances that will lower their energy bill and put money back in their pocket every month,” Congresswoman Titus said.  “This latest funding, along with the millions of dollars that have already been announced for energy efficiency in Nevada, will help spur our economy as we reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

The funding for Nevada, totaling $2,494,779, will be awarded through the state energy office using a formula set forth in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  Each state is required to submit a plan that specifies which ENERGY STAR appliance categories will be included in the rebate program, the rebate level for each product type, how the rebates will be processed, and a plan for recycling old appliances.  States and territories must file an initial application expressing their intent to participate by August 15, 2009, followed by a full application by October 15, 2009.

The Department of Energy recommends that states and territories focus their program efforts on heating and cooling equipment and water heaters as these products offer the greatest energy saving potential.  ENERGY STAR qualified appliance categories eligible for rebates include: central air conditioners, heat pumps, boilers, furnaces, room air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, and water heaters.

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy that covers more than 60 product categories and is supported by a network of almost 600 utility and state government partners serving more than 74 million households, over 2,000 retail partners representing more than 27,000 storefronts, and 2,645 manufacturers of ENERGY STAR qualified products.

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Tags: energy, Recovery and Reinvestment Act