IA urges support of consumer rebates for irrigation system retrofits
4 Aug, 2010 i-newsOn July 28, legislation was introduced that would create consumer rebates for irrigation system retrofits; the Irrigation Association asks that you learn more about this bill and call your senator to ask them to support these rebate provisions.
The Home Star Retrofit Act of 2010 was introduced as part of the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act of 2010. While principally about the Gulf oil spill and related regulations, the legislation also contains a consumer-based rebate program, focusing on creating jobs through incentivizing the purchase of energy- and water-efficient products and services.
The Silver Star rebate program, if passed by Congress, will rebate the consumer $150 for services rendered to an existing irrigation system by a WaterSense-labeled irrigation professional, if the cost of the service (not including the cost of products used during the retrofit work) totals $300 or more. The Irrigation Association supports this provision of the legislation and urges Congress to include this portion of the rebate program in the final bill.
Also included in the Home Star Retrofit Act of 2010 is a rebate program to incentivize the consumer to reduce whole-home water use by 20%, known as the Gold Star rebate program.
While the IA supports efficient irrigation technology, products and services to help the homeowner achieve this reduction in water-use, not enough information is provided in the legislation regarding the nuances of the Gold Star program for the IA to support this provision. Once more information is available on the metrics that will be used to administer this rebate program, the IA will provide that information to the industry.
The IA urges irrigation and landscape contractors to contact their senators by calling the Senate switchboard at 202/224.3121 and convey the following message regarding the Home Star provisions of the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Company Accountability Act of 2010:
* Support the water efficiency rebate measures contained in the Silver Star program.
* The Gold Star program needs to be clearly defined in the legislation and administered in a way that the program creates jobs through promoting efficient irrigation technologies, products and services, while achieving a 20 percent reduction in whole-home water use.
As this bill moves through the legislative process (the Bill will not be considered again by the Senate until September when Congress returns from its August recess), the IA will work with legislative staff directly and in cooperation with allied organizations to retain the Silver Star rebate language and to advocate for Gold Star rebate program language that is more specific and aligned with the interests of the IA membership.
Any questions regarding the Home Star Retrofit Act of 2010, or any other legislative initiative of the IA, please contact IA's Federal Affairs Director John Farner at john@irrigation.org.
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