Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) March 4 introduced the "Building STAR Energy Efficiency Rebate Act of 2010" (S. 3079), a bill that would provide $6 billion in federal investment through rebates and financing incentives. The bill would cover about 30 percent of the cost of installing energy efficient products and/or providing energy efficiency-related services (e.g., energy audits) in commercial and multifamily residential buildings this year. It is estimated that the $6 billion in funding for the Building STAR program would spur $18 to $24 billion in total spending, creating up to 200,000 jobs in the construction, manufacturing and other related industries. The program is designed to work quickly and includes simplified application procedures for building owners.
Building STAR is the companion to Home STAR, a similar rebate program for home owners being developed by Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which today held a hearing on both proposals.
AGC is a participating organization in the coalition that developed and is promoting Building STAR and was quoted in a BNA Construction Labor Report article addressing the Building STAR bill.
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