May 6, 2010
CONTACT: Oliver Bernstein, Sierra Club, 512.289.8618
U.S. House Passes Home Star Energy Efficiency Program
with Bipartisan Support
Washington, D.C.-- The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010, a bipartisan home energy efficiency retrofit bill, passed in the House of Representatives today with a 246 to 161 vote. The bill will help create clean energy jobs by setting up a $6 billion program to retrofit millions of homes to make them more energy efficient and to lower consumers' energy bills.
Statement of Kate Johnson, Sierra Club National Clean Energy Representative
"As America reels from the BP oil disaster, we applaud the passage of the Home Star Energy Efficiency Retrofit Program. Reducing energy use in our homes is an important way to reduce our dependence on oil, coal and other dirty fuels. This critical bipartisan legislation will create clean energy jobs and save consumers money.
"On the heels of the Good Jobs, Green Jobs conference in Washington, D.C. -- which brought together thousands of labor and environmental advocates -- today's vote reaffirms the connection between saving energy and creating jobs. We also thank major retailers and manufacturers for their support.
"Home Star now moves to the Senate, where passage would allow hard-hit consumers to save money immediately on their energy bills. Making our homes and buildings more energy efficient is the cleanest, cheapest, and fastest way to reduce emissions and lessen our dependence on oil and coal. Home Star would quickly create tens of thousands of much-needed jobs.
"We now look to the Senate for swift passage of this energy-saving, job-creating bill."
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