KLOBUCHAR PROVISION TO HELP NONPROFITS SAVE MONEY ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADES INCLUDED IN NEW BIPARTISAN SENATE ENERGY BILL AGREEMENT

Klobuchar’s provision will create a grant program to help nonprofits—including places of worship, faith-based organizations, and youth centers—afford materials needed for energy efficiency upgrades

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today announced that a provision based on her Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act to help nonprofit organizations save money on energy efficiency upgrades has been included in a new comprehensive energy bill agreement that was recently announced and could be voted on next week. Klobuchar’s provision creates a grant program that will help nonprofits – including places of worship, faith-based organizations, and youth centers — afford the materials needed to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings and generate renewable energy. Since nonprofits are tax-exempt entities, they cannot currently benefit from many energy support programs because the programs are often structured in the form of tax credits.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – (RealEstateRama) — “Nonprofits, including places of worship, serve our communities and deserve the same opportunity as other organizations to make energy efficiency upgrades,” Klobuchar said. “This common sense provision would boost America’s energy independence while helping nonprofit organizations save money on energy efficiency improvements, which in turn will help them do even more good work in our communities. The inclusion of this bipartisan provision in the energy bill agreement is another big step forward.”

Klobuchar’s provision would provide $10 million each year for the next five years to create a pilot grant program at the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) to support nonprofits in purchasing materials for energy efficiency projects. The grants would promote energy efficiency by supporting the purchase of materials for upgrades to existing infrastructure as well as renewable energy generators and heaters. Nonprofits could apply for grants up to $200,000. The legislation is supported by the National Council of Churches, the YMCA of the USA, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, among other organizations.