Oilheat Industry Leads Green Jobs RevolutiON - RIGHT NOW

[Cromwell, CT] President Obama and the Congress are struggling with issues of how to stimulate the economy and make sensible use of our tax dollars. We join Speaker Donovan today in applauding the effort to create “Green Collar” jobs here in Connecticut. ICPA association President Gene Guilford said, "The oil heat industry is leading the nation with efforts to reduce energy consumption through energy conservation programs.  For every $1 that is invested in energy conservation, taxpayers save $3 in government programs that help the neediest in our society pay their heating bills - we have the Green Collar jobs right here, right now"

In 2009/10, the federal government will spend $5.1 billion in tax dollars to help the needy pay their energy bills.  In Connecticut, for example, our share of that federal grant is almost $100 million.  The Connecticut Fuel Oil Conservation Board’s work in our state has seen an investment of $1.5 million for energy conservation projects that replaced or upgraded 316 inefficient heating systems with new, high-efficiency Oilheat systems that will reduce consumption and ultimately reduce the demand for assistance to pay heating bills over the next 20 years. Unfortunately, our Fuel Oil Conservation Board lost its state funding to budget reductions.

There are 4,500 licensed, professional energy conservation technicians at work in our state and we could add hundreds more with a concerted effort aimed at energy conservation. Moreover, we also train people to join these professions right here in Cromwell.

Here is the objective we have, working with our partners in the Community Action Agencies around Connecticut [see CAFCA, http://www.cafca.org/] whose results will be immediate and directly affects the taxpayers and the recipients of the assistance:

§         There are 6,600 low income clients with inefficient heating systems (systems achieving 50% energy consumption reductions) X $896.88 saved per year = $5,919,408.00 saved per year, or a 20 year system life cycle savings of $118,388,160

§         There are 13,200 low income clients with inefficient heating systems (systems achieving 40% energy consumption reductions) X $717.49 saved per year  = $9,470,868.00 saved per year, or a 20 year system life cycle savings of $189, 417,360.

Energy conservation programs work.  The work is performed by local, professional licensed contractors.  The equipment is made in the United States and purchased from local supply houses.  The result of energy conservation programs is a reduction in the demand for energy and a reduction in the demand for assistance to pay for energy, as well as environmental benefits.  We have more than 20,000 shovel-ready projects to do right now - and the local jobs to do the work right now.  Green jobs also require Green investment.

• ICPA submitted legislation that ended up creating a $500 energy efficiency improvement rebate;
• ICPA legislation, crafted with State Senator John Fonfara, created the Fuel Oil Conservation Board, the first of its kind in America;
• ICPA worked to create and maintain the Clean-Tune-Test program for heating systems as well as the sales tax exemption on high-efficiency heating equipment;
• ICPA works with and promotes the state’s CHIF 0% interest low-income loan program to enhance energy efficiency, as well as our own AFC/First standard energy loan program [http://icpa.org/ConsumerInfo.htm]

Whether it is through President Obama’s proposal to weatherize 1 million homes annually, or the Congress’ struggle with an economic stimulus, or the Connecticut Fuel Oil Conservation program – when government can spend $1 and save $3 of the taxpayer’s money and maintain as well as create technical, well-paying jobs here at home through installation and manufacturing of high-efficiency equipment purchased through local supply houses this is a sensible program that is good for taxpayers, good for the neediest in our society, good for the environment, good for energy policy and best of all – it’s good for America.

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ICPA represents more than 550 Connecticut based independent businesses. These businesses employ 13,000 Connecticut citizens and supply the majority of our state's 1,600 motor fuels outlets and 350 heating fuels dealers. ICPA's offices are at 10 Alcap Ridge, Cromwell, CT  06416.  For more information about today's Press Release, contact Gene Guilford or Chris Herb.