Members: We have been working very hard to get PACE passed, special thanks to all who helped to move this forward. Get ready to ramp up! -- MAAEP Exec. Board

Coalition for new jobs, energy independence and environment puts Missouri on PACE

Jefferson City, Mo. / May 14, 2010 - On Friday, a broad coalition of state wide groups came together to help pass historic job-creating clean energy PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) legislation making Missouri the 20th state to adopt the program.

Missouri organizations including energy-efficiency professionals, environmental advocates, community bankers and individual Realtors garnered bi-partisan support for PACE which was amended to several bills in the final days and hours of the legislative session to ensure its passage.

"When signed into law by Governor Jay Nixon, PACE promises to improve and upgrade a significant percentage of Missouri's homes and commercial properties at little or no cost to the state or local municipalities, create thousands of local jobs, and save money for homeowners by lowing their utility bills and make our state and nation more energy independent," explained Byron DeLear of the Missouri Association of Accredited Energy Professionals (MAAEP).

MAAEP's membership is made up of the new emerging professions surrounding energy efficiency: "green jobs" including energy auditors, efficiency experts and home performance contractors. MAAEP joined forces with Renew Missouri, Missouri bankers, Missouri Votes Conservation, Armstrong Teasdale's Future Energy Group and other stakeholders to outreach to key legislators to get PACE passed.

"Renew Missouri was honored to have played such an instrumental role in helping to craft and get PACE passed," remarked Erin Noble, Energy Policy Director for Missouri Coalition for the Environment / Renew Missouri. "With PACE, we are building on our past success of 2008's Proposition C Clean Energy Initiative in advancing the cause of smart and sustainable clean-energy policies for our state, in addition to restoring our economy through job creation."

"We need jobs--electrical workers, carpenters and home builders looking for work are now getting qualified for upcoming energy efficiency opportunities upgrading and improving tens of thousands of homes, offices and buildings throughout Missouri," said attorney and MAAEP board member Tom Appelbaum, "PACE has the potential to bring an entire new industry to the Midwest, we are all very excited and pleased."

MAAEP board member and owner of Home Green Home, Marc Bluestone exclaimed, "This is just what we need (PACE) to kick start Missouri into playing a lead role in the American clean-energy transformation!"

MAAEP to conduct organizational meeting for professional members on May 25th in Springfield, MO. (time and location to be announced)

www.MAAEP.org

MAAEP will be traveling to our nation's capitol representing Missouri to lobby for energy-efficiency jobs. We have been invited by the national non-profit trade association, Efficiency First, to promote Home Star legislation in Washington DC. The momentum is growing for HOME STAR legislation in Congress. HOME STAR legislation passed (see below item for details) the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and both the House and Senate bills have support from Democrats AND Republicans. Come to DC on May 19-20 to bring HOME STAR home!

Click Here for info on Efficiency First DC Trip

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri, joined a strong, bipartisan majority to pass H.R. 5019, the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010. The legislation, which was approved by a vote of 246-161, is expected to create nearly 170,000 jobs in construction, retail and manufacturing. The bill would offer rebates for whole-home retrofits, saving American families $9 billion on their utility bills over the next 10 years.

"These new Home Star Energy rebates will provide immediate incentives to working families who renovate their homes to become more energy-efficient," said the Congressman. "Home Star will stimulate our economy by creating good jobs for local energy contractors, builders and hardware store employees. This legislation will also move the United States towards energy independence."

The bill features two levels of rebates that will help an estimated 3 million American homeowners.

The Silver Star program would provide up-front rebates of up to $3,000 for the installation of proven energy-saving technologies, such as insulation, duct sealing, window and door improvements, air sealing, and advanced water heaters.

The Gold Star program rewards homeowners with up to $8,000 for conducting a comprehensive energy audit and substantially reducing their energy use at home.

This bill would boost our construction and manufacturing industries in the short term by creating jobs immediately. More than 90% of the materials and products used in eligible measures are made in the U.S.

This legislation builds on our previous accomplishments offering tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements in the Recovery Act. Through the end of 2010, homeowners can receive a tax credit for 30 percent of the cost of these improvements, up to $1,500. More information is available at http://www.energysavers.gov/financial.

The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act has received bipartisan support, and has been endorsed by a broad range of business, labor, environmental, and consumer groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the National Association of Home Builders.

Home Improvement: Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency with ENERGY STAR

Click on the video for a recent segment of the TV Show "Laborvision with John Hickey."

Laborvision 4/5/2010 "Blue-Green Policies" featuring Byron DeLear

Please join us for a energy efficiency industry forum in Springfield, Missouri on May 25th early evening. We will discuss the latest industry developments such as PACE legislation, Home Star bill, jobs and stimulus programs, new energy conservation and building codes and issues specific to Greene and surrounding counties.

(Specific time and location to be announced shortly)

To find more information on MAAEP, please visit our website at www.MAAEP.org. MAAEP will continue to be involved within the energy efficiency community in order to further our mission of promoting renewable and green energy solutions for Missouri.

We look forward to working together to advance this cause.

Sincerely,

Tom Appelbaum
Tom@MAAEP.org

Marc Bluestone
Marc@MAAEP.org

Byron DeLear
Byron@MAAEP.org

Harvey Ferdman
Harvey@MAAEP.org

Damien Flaherty
Damien@MAAEP.org

Matthew Pidgeon
Matt@MAAEP.org

David Rabenau
David@MAAEP.org