Companies say weatherization program will create jobs here in Maine 

Last week, when the U.S. House passed the Home Star program to provide significant rebates for families who want to make their homes more energy efficient, the bill included a provision written by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree to stimulate sales of modular homes built in Maine.
 
The amendment Pingree wrote will allow owners of mobile homes built before 1976 to access a $7,500 rebate when they purchase a new, Energy Star qualified modular home, plus an additional $2,500 to dispose of their old mobile home.  Maine has two modular home manufacturers (Keiser Homes in Oxford and KBS Building Systems in South Paris) that are ready and willing to work with families inside and outside of Maine who seek to use the use the rebate program to replace their old mobile homes.

“Representative Pingree’s amendment will lead to new manufacturing orders and create dozens of jobs in our industry right here in Maine,” said Josh Saunders from Keiser Homes.  “She understands how much this sector has struggled in recent years and we appreciate her efforts to help get local people back to work, building quality, Maine-built modular homes.”
 
“New modular homes are much more energy efficient than pre-1976 mobile homes and will save residents thousands of dollars per year in heating and electricity costs,” Pingree said.  “And helping Americans get into new modular homes will create manufacturing jobs right here in Maine.”
 
The Home Star legislation now goes to the Senate.