Congressman Salazar praises House passage of Rural Energy Savings Program

WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman John T. Salazar presided over House of Representatives today, during debate on the Rural Energy Savings Program Act (H.R. 4785).  Salazar joined a bipartisan coalition in the House to pass the bill 240 – 172.  

Salazar fought for House passage for the legislation  that provides loans to American families and farmers in rural communities to renovate their homes or farms to become more energy-efficient, creating American manufacturing and installation jobs, while lowering energy bills for American families.  Homeowners and farmers in Rural Colorado will qualify for loans of about $3,000 to $7,500 to eliminate the upfront cost of home energy upgrades, which customers can then repay over 10 years on their electric bill -- with their energy savings from the renovations covering most of the cost of the loan.  

“My constituents in Rural Colorado are very concerned about their rising utility costs.  This is common sense, bipartisan legislation that is much too rare these days that actually addresses rising utility costs and creates jobs for hard working Americans,” said Salazar.   “We have to continue moving forward, pushing good ideas like this that get Americans back to work in rural communities and boost demand for American made products and materials that will be used in making homes more energy efficient.”