April 20, 2016 public statement
Senate passes energy bill that includes competitive grant program for weatherization services
WASHINGTON (April 20, 2016) – Today the U.S. Senate passed with inspiring bipartisan support the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015, a comprehensive energy bill that contains a provision supported by Habitat for Humanity International that would authorize a competitive grant program for national nonprofits providing weatherization services.
“We congratulate Senators Lisa Murkowski and Maria Cantwell for shepherding this important legislation through the Senate, and Senators Susan Collins and Chris Coons for advancing the weatherization provision in particular,” stated Christopher Ptomey, senior director of government relations at Habitat for Humanity International. “Energy efficient homes are more affordable homes, and lower energy usage and costs enable Habitat homeowners to invest more in education, health care, child care and meeting other critical household needs. Communities benefit as well, as energy audits and retrofits provide employment and reduce the impact of housing on the environment. The competitive grant program authorized in the bill would extend the reach of the Weatherization Assistance Program by allocating a small percentage of weatherization funding to enable organizations such as Habitat to leverage matching donor funding to repair more homes.”
Across the country, Habitat affiliates partner with qualified low-income families to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, reducing monthly energy consumption and costs and mitigating their homes’ impact on the environment.
You’ll find more about Habitat for Humanity’s energy efficiency work in our 2015 Shelter Report on residential energy efficiency.