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Nearly 70% of your trash can be recycled, yet the majority of discarded waste continues to be hauled away to landfills each year. While you may believe that the material you throw away will quickly decompose in the landfill, there are many factors that affect the decomposition rate of various materials, including oxygen levels, temperature, and the presence of water. Water is a natural aid for decomposition, but many landfills are hermetically sealed with plastic to keep water out. Therefore, much of this waste can take several years to decompose (if it ever does decompose), which results in the increasing need for the creation of new landfills—costing up to $10 million each to build, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A viable solution is to decrease the amount of waste that actually makes it to the landfill in the first place. How Long Do You Think It Takes? If you think that your waste quickly decomposes after it is hauled off to the dump, take a moment to match the list of discarded items below with the potential decomposition times. Then, read on to see just how long it might really take for these items to decompose in the landfill.
Newspaper—2 to 4 Weeks If you have ever picked up a sopping wet newspaper from the driveway after a rain storm, you may have guessed that newspapers decompose rather quickly when wet. Due to the fact that measures are taken in the majority of landfills to reduce the presence of water, decomposition time is substantially increased. Cardboard—2 Months While two months may not seem like a long time, there are several ways to prolong the lifecycle of cardboard, rather than simply throwing it away. Get the most out of your cardboard by reusing boxes for storage or moving projects. Cardboard can be composted and corrugated cardboard (moving boxes) can be recycled. Cotton Fabric—5 Months Rather than throwing away cotton items, donate gently used clothing, towels, or sheets to charity. Cotton fabrics can also make a great addition to your compost pile. Cigarette Butt—2 to 5 Years At first glance, it may appear that cigarettes would decompose rather quickly. The composition of a cigarette is actually very complex—containing almost 600 ingredients. One of these ingredients, cellulose acetate (a plastic), is found in 95% of cigarette filters and is difficult to decompose. Wooden Furniture—13 Years Yes, wood is natural and biodegradable, but under the conditions created in landfills, wood takes longer to decompose—13 years for a standard wooden chair. Painted wood increases the decomposition time, and can cause additional harm to the environment due to the added chemicals. Proper disposal of wood can also be beneficial to your bottom line, as it is typically much more costly to send wood products to landfills rather than processing facilities. Businesses can typically expect to pay approximately one-third less for processing than the landfill disposal fee, and some states offer free processing programs for clean wood. Tin Can—80 to 100 Years These days, tin cans are actually made of several materials, including iron ore and tin, which are non-renewable resources. Cans are usually tin-plated steel with the rest being made of mostly aluminum. It takes millions of years for these materials to naturally form, so simply throwing them away is definitely a waste. Unlike 100% aluminum beverage cans, the recycling process for tin cans is a little complex, so they are not always accepted by recycling companies. Plastic Grocery Bag—500 to 1,000 Years While some new plastic bags are designed to photo-degrade, due to landfill conditions (being buried under tons of other trash and dirt), most plastic bags are not exposed to sunlight that would aid in the decomposition process. Typically, plastic grocery bags are made from high-density polyethylene, or HDPE (#2 plastic) or low-density polyethylene, or LDPE (#4 plastic). Both materials are derived from refined petroleum, which takes a while to decompose, but can be recycled. To reduce plastic bag waste, try using reusable fabric shopping bags or see if your grocer has a bag recycling program. Aluminum Can—200 to 500 Years Rather than throwing cans away, just to have them sit in the landfill for hundreds of years, why not recycle them for a much quicker turn around? It only takes six weeks to make a new can from a recycled can. Plastic Bottle—450 Years Plastic bottles contain polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is made of petroleum. This material is extremely difficult to break down, especially in an environment such as a landfill. According to the Beverage Marketing Corp, the average American consumed 1.6 gallons of bottled water in 1976, which increased to 28.3 gallons in 2006. Use reusable beverage containers to cut down on waste. Styrofoam Cup—Never While some scientists have argued that the material can decompose in a landfill in 1 million years, the majority agree that the number is simply unknown. Styrofoam®, also known as expanded polystyrene (EPS), probably never decomposes. Studies have shown that polystyrene makes up approximately 1% of the weight in landfills. Due to the light weight of the material, it can be determined that the material makes up a large portion of landfill waste. For a simple solution, use reusable drinking cups. Take Action Now that you have learned the decomposition rate for commonly-used items, you can take the necessary steps to reduce your negative environmental impact by purchasing recycled goods, and recycling them after use. Considering the rate of decomposition prior to purchase is also one of the best ways to reduce waste. Record Cold Temperatures Equal Higher Bills? Bitter cold in December and January has increased the amount of gas used to heat homes and businesses. As a result, customers throughout the Midwest are expecting higher than normal gas bills. But maybe not. There is good news. Despite increased natural gas usage due to recent frigid weather, MGE customers are actually paying 26 percent less for natural gas now than at this time last winter. In fact, the cost of natural gas (COG) for MGE customers now ($0.69754) is the lowest wintertime COG for MGE in seven years. Th e COG typically makes up approximately 70 percent of a residential customer’s bill during the heating season. MGE purchases natural gas on behalf of its customers and does not earn a profi t on the price of gas; only on its delivery. Whether or not your bill is higher this winter due to colder weather and increased use, as an MGE customer you can take comfort in knowing that the price for a unit of gas (COG) paid to heat your home or business is lower this winter, which means more money in your pocket during these hard economic times. Residential customers, there is more good news! This is the third consecutive winter that MGE customers are seeing the benefit of a fixed monthly delivery charge, thanks to an innovative rate design approved by the Missouri Public Service Commission in 2007. Prior to April 2007, MGE charged its residential customers a fixed monthly customer charge plus a per-unit delivery charge, in addition to the cost of gas referenced above. That meant residential customers were paying an additional delivery charge for each unit of gas delivered. Today, MGE residential customers pay only a fixed monthly delivery charge, without an additional per-unit delivery charge, plus the COG. So what can you do? MGE encourages customers to enjoy the benefits of natural gas and to do so with high efficiency natural gas appliances. For more information on MGE’s high efficiency appliance incentive programs and the Home Performance with Energy Star program for home improvements, visit www.betterheatingnow.com and www.hpwes.net. Energize Missouri - Appliance Rebate Program The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Energy Center will receive $5,672,000 million in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Energy to help citizens purchase energy-efficient appliances. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provided the funding to the U.S. Department of Energy to establish state ENERGY STAR appliance rebate programs. The Department of Natural Resources plans to launch the program April 19, 2010, to run concurrently with the “Show Me Green ENERGY STAR Sales Tax Holiday. Each state and U.S territory was allowed to design its own unique rebate program and select eligible products and rebate amounts. Missouri’s plan outlines which ENERGY STAR appliances will be included in the program, rebate levels for each product, how rebates will be processed and a recycling plan for old appliances. The Energize Missouri Appliance Rebates program will help Missourians buy appliances at lower costs, reduce home utility expenses, and benefit Missouri businesses by stimulating sales of energy efficient appliances. The department will issue rebates for the following items that are ENERGY STAR qualified. Purchases of these ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and equipment prior to the start of the program in Missouri will not be eligible for rebates. After commencement of the program, rebates will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis until all rebate funding is depleted. Eligible appliances include:
Now that the U.S. DOE has approved Missouri’s program plan, the state will select a contractor to manage and implement the program. A consumer information line and eligibility criteria will be established and announced once the implementation contractor has been selected. Missouri residents should also check with their utility providers for other rebates that may be available for energy efficient equipment and appliances. Many utility companies offer rebates for purchasing energy efficient home appliances and equipment. When other utility rebates or incentives exist, the addition of the new Energize Missouri Appliance Rebate will increase the total amount a Missouri household may receive for replacing their qualified appliances or systems. In areas of the state where utility-based rebates are not offered, the Energize Missouri Appliance Rebate will stand alone. Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Energy Center KCP&L RELEASES RFP TO ADD UP TO 300 MW OF WIND POWER BY 2011 On December 1, 2009, KCP&L took the next step in furthering their commitment to a balanced, more sustainable portfolio of generation by issuing requests for proposals (RFP) to add as much as 300 MW of additional emissions-free, renewable wind generation to be in service in the 2010 – 2011 timeframe. KCP&L owns and operate the Spearville Wind Generation Facility, a 100.5 MW wind farm, in Spearville, Kansas. These RFPs would add up to 300 megawatts of additional wind generation. In addition it would allow KCP&L to meet the next phase of our landmark agreement with the Sierra Club. Adding additional wind generation to their portfolio would also help KCP&L meet Proposition C in Missouri and the renewable energy standard in Kansas. While focused primarily on projects in Missouri and Kansas, we will evaluate proposals throughout the Southwest Power Pool region. In making the announcement to employees, KCP&L President, Bill Downey said, “This RFP allows KCP&L to evaluate several different options for wind generation. We will look for the best, most cost-effective options to benefit our customers, shareholders and company, while remaining mindful of economic development opportunities within the region.” The RFPs can be found on KCP&L’s web site at www.kcpl.com. Missouri Renewable Energy Legislation: Proposition C Update Solar Rebates Coming to Missouri in 2010 The slow and tedious process of working out the details on how to implement Proposition C continues. Prop C, passed by Missouri voters 2 to 1 last fall, mandates that investor owned utilities (IOUs) increase the amount of electricity generated from renewable sources to 15% by 2021, 2% of which must come from solar photovoltaics. The law requires IOUs to provide a $2.00 rebate per installed watt of solar PV power starting January 1, 2010. The rebate is limited to $50,000 for a 25kW system. The Public Service Commission, charged with overseeing Missouri utility rates, has been conducting stakeholder meetings between Kansas City Power & Light, Ameren, solar & wind installers and other interested parties to determine the highly detailed rules for how to implement the renewable energy requirements. Prop C rules will set the amount of renewable energy required each year and how the funding for the solar rebates and renewable energy credits (RECs) will be distributed, as well as determine if the renewable energy will be required to be generated and purchased in Missouri, or out of state. While the $2.00 per watt rebates have largely been agreed upon, the market price and purchase requirements of the RECs is still under discussion. The next steps are for PSC staff to present the draft rules, including the suggestions of various stakeholder groups, to the Commissioners. The Public Service Commissioners will hold a hearing open to the public to collect input from the citizens. Coupled with new federal tax incentives, electricity generating solar photovoltaics are more affordable than ever in Missouri, and the industry is expected to grow quickly in 2010. The solar industry is well positioned to meet that demand, producing Missouri jobs, supporting small businesses, and growing our local economies. It is expected that the Public Service Commission hearing will be held within the next couple of months. Air National Guard Looks to the Sky for Solar Power Rosecran Air National Guard Base installs 30kW solar system on roof of engine shop. The Missouri Air National Guard is capturing energy from the sun to supplement its electric power needs. This initiative is in response to an executive order requiring that the base use renewable resources for at least 13 percent of their energy consumption by 2013. The order also requires that all federal entities reduce their electric and natural gas consumption by 30 percent within the same timeframe. The Rosecran Air National Guard Base, home to the 139th Airlift Wing, recently added 30,000 watts of solar power to their engine shop. The Energy Savings Store out of Kansas City designed the system using 135 American-made Sharp solar panels, which will produce approximately 4000 kilowatt hours of power per month. For comparative purposes, this is enough electricity to power three or four average size homes. Any excess power produced by the system can be used by other buildings on the base. The Energy Savings Store also supplied, supervised and supported the installation of the solar panels and other electrical components for the system. Miljavac Electric, a local electrical contractor based in St. Joseph, was the prime contractor on the project, creating local jobs. Doug Cerra, project engineer in charge of solar energy for the base, said that by the end of 2009, the base is in line to have a total of about 700 panels on five buildings. The combined power capacity of these systems is over 150kW. This is expected to reduce overall electric consumption by about 40%, saving the base approximately $89,000 per year. The solar panels generate the most power in the summer, when the days are longer and the sun is higher in the sky. The solar power will offset the peak power consumption during the hottest months. Homeowners Can Benefit from Building Retrofit Program in the American Clean Energy and Security Act The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACESA) -- which is expected to have significant impact on the energy efficiency performance requirements of new and existing homes and buildings -- by a vote of 219 to 212 on Friday, June 26, 2009. Also referred to as the 'Waxman-Markey Bill,' this landmark energy and environment Act is intended to provide incentives for reducing energy consumption, establish limits on U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and create a trading system for GHG emission permits. Section 202 of the Act, the Building Retrofit Program, should be of special interest to American homeowners. It establishes a Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) program. Key elements of the REEP program include:
http://ase.org/content/article/detail/5507 for a summary of the Act and to view details of Section 202: Building Retrofit Program. Industry Looks to LED Bulbs for the Home Walk around the floor of Lightfair International, the lighting industry’s annual trade show at the Javits Center in New York last week, and you would be forgiven for thinking that lamps based on light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, had already filled our homes and workplaces. LED bulbs and fixtures dominated nearly every booth on the show floor. Now all the world has to do is catch up. Most people think of LEDs as the lights blinking from inside electronic devices. They are being used increasingly to light rooms, though few people have ever bought them. “In the U.S., 78 percent of the public is completely unaware that traditional light bulbs will be phased out in 2012,” said Charles F. Jerabek, president and chief executive of Osram Sylvania, a unit of Siemens. By law, bulbs must be 30 percent more efficient than current incandescent versions beginning that year. While the current crop of compact fluorescents could do the job, the industry is rallying around LED lamps for many applications. They say LEDs last longer than current bulbs and compact fluorescent ones and their energy consumption could eventually be less than fluorescent lights’. They can also be made in many shapes and sizes, which was evident at the trade show. Unlike compact fluorescents bulbs, they contain no mercury and they work well in cold weather. They provide a more pleasing light than fluorescents. Manufacturers displayed LEDs incorporated into large warehouse, garage and street-lighting fixtures, flexible light ribbons, and replacements for the halogen reflector lamps used in kitchens and offices. Strips of flexible LEDs from Osram Sylvania put light in places where it could not otherwise fit. Later this year, the company will market tiny LED chandelier lights that use 6 watts instead of the 15 watts typical of an incandescent version. It says they will last 25,000 hours instead of 1,500 for an incandescent bulb. Also this fall, Osram, Lighting Science and Philips will introduce 25,000-hour LED lamps that look like traditional bulbs but use just 8 watts of electricity to produce the same amount of light as a 40-watt bulb. Much of the industry’s effort is aimed at making LED lamps that emit as much light as a 60- or 75-watt incandescent bulb. Cree, a leading maker of LEDs, showed a new version of its LED ceiling fixture that uses 6.5 watts, compared with 11 watts for last year’s model, to create the light of a standard 65-watt lamp. Even with the wide range of LED products now available, compact fluorescent bulbs will be the technology of choice for most consumers for years to come. That is a result of LEDs’ high prices — more than $20 for a 40-watt-equivalent bulb — and the difficulty in creating bright bulbs. “The C.F.L. market still has a lot of growth,” said Michael B. Petras Jr., president of GE Lighting, a unit of General Electric. Even so, the company is devoting 50 percent of its research and development money to LED-related technologies. The advent of long-lasting bulbs means light bulb companies have to shift away from making most of their money selling replacement bulbs. Over the last several years, Philips has remade itself by acquiring several companies that sell lamp fixtures for homes and businesses. The company expects its LED sales in the United States to increase to $200 million this year from $120 million in 2008, according to Kaj den Daas, president of Philips’s lighting group for the United States. The industry expects to sell more bulbs at a higher price. “Instead of $1.25 light bulbs, we’ll be selling $10 to $20 systems,” said Mr. Jerabek of Osram Sylvania. He also said today’s larger homes have many more lights than homes 20 years ago. And, as LED energy efficiency improves, he thinks consumers will upgrade their LED fixtures with lower watt versions. Mr. Jerabek remembers the recent debacle with the introduction of low-price compact fluorescent lamps. Their poor reliability and unnatural light caused widespread dissatisfaction among consumers. “It will be a huge injustice and setback if we allow the same thing to happen to LEDs,” he said. ATMOS ENERGY INTRODUCES ONLINE CARBON EMISSION CALCULATOR New information tools help the public understand their effects on the environment Dallas (April 2, 2009) — In honor of Earth Day, Atmos Energy Corporation (NYSE: ATO) is introducing an updated collection of online applications on its Web site to help people understand how their energy use affects the environment. You can discover the size of your “carbon footprint” with the improved capabilities of Atmos Energy’s online energy management tools located at www.atmosenergy.com/energytips. These tools show how you can better manage your energy use to help the environment and your household budget. “The enhanced tools on our Web site quickly tell you how much carbon dioxide your lifestyle produces, based on your home’s energy use,” said Kim R. Cocklin, president of Atmos Energy. “Understanding our personal effect on the environment is one of the first steps we can all take to help keep the Earth healthy.” What exactly does “carbon footprint” mean? It’s the effect of personal or business activities on the environment, as measured in pounds of carbon dioxide produced. The smaller your carbon footprint, the less harm you cause to the environment. The latest enhancements to the natural gas distributor’s Web site include: Energy Profile: Find out how much carbon your home is producing in addition to calculating your home’s energy use by completing an Energy Profile questionnaire. Users will receive a personalized energy-use and carbon emissions report that includes energy-saving advice and calculates the payback of these recommendations. Energy Calculator: Estimate carbon emissions, energy usage and the costs of operating many home appliances. Energy Library: This comprehensive online resource now has an Environmental section that discusses how natural gas is environmentally responsible and information about how conservation helps the Earth’s environment and natural resources. About Atmos Energy Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s largest natural gas-only distributor, serving about 3.2 million natural gas distribution customers in more than 1,600 communities in 12 states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy also provides natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast and manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Atmos Energy is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com. AREA ORGANIZATION AWARDED GRANT TO HELP RESIDENTS SAVE MONEY AND USE ENERGY MORE EFFICIENTYLY April 17, 2009 -- Independence, MO. The board of the Heartland Utilities for Energy Efficiency (HUEE) is pleased to announce that it has awarded a grant to an area organization whose proposed energy efficiency education workshops promise to benefit gas and electric customers across the metropolitan area. A $15,500 grant was awarded to the Community Service League (CLS), based in Independence, Missouri, to provide lower-income residents education workshops on energy efficiency, home weatherization tips and how to use and manage energy wisely, while helping to reduce waste and pollution. The grant’s qualifying criteria included energy efficiency education targeted towards existing residential buildings and customers in the greater metropolitan area who can least afford higher utility costs and who are patrons of community assistance agencies, like the Community Services League.
HUEE and CLS will evaluate the workshops on a quarterly basis, stressing measurable outcomes as well as successes, challenges, and lessons learned. CLS will complete a final report early next year. For more information about CLS visit www.communityserv.org Founded in 2002, HUEE is a volunteer group of seven local gas and electric utilities with the purpose of providing residential energy efficiency education and related programs and other actions in an eight-county area. The Heartland Utilities for Energy Efficiency Fund is supported by HUEE and administered by the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. SHOW ME GREEN SALES TAX HOLIDAY - APRIL 19 THROUGH 25 The State of Missouri has adopted a "Show Me Green Sales Tax Holiday" for the week of April 19-15, 2009 exampting from state sales taxes purchases of Energy Star qualified appliances. As allowed by the State Legislation, Kansas City MO (among other cities and counties) has opted to participate (exempting city sales taxes). FAQs at http://dor.mo.gov/tax/business/sales/taxholiday/green/faq.htm. Information for Vendors selling qualified appliances is available on this PDF (24 kb). Information for Customers purchasing qualified appliances is available on this PDF. The State Legislation SB1181 document is available on this PDF (21 kb). The KC Resolution 090011 - Committee Sub document is available on this PDF (62 kb). KCC TO HOST SOLAR ENERGY ROUND TABLE February 24, 2009Sunshine – is it a practical energy alternative for Kansans? Is it reliable enough? What are the technical, financial and regulatory challenges of solar energy? These are the issues the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) intends to explore in an upcoming Solar Energy Roundtable on March 3, 2009. This is the fourth in a series of roundtables sponsored by the KCC in its ongoing exploration of various energy sources and their viability specific to Kansas, along with costs, benefits and environmental impacts. The Energy Programs Division of the Kansas Corporation Commission is hosting the roundtable to discuss the prospects for solar power, and the unique economic, regulatory, and engineering challenges it poses. Presenters include experts from McKinsey & Company, Keyes & Fox, Wichita State University, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the U.S. Department of Energy, and SunEdison. The round table will be held March 3, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB), 1420 S.W. Arrowhead Road, Topeka, Kansas (immediately north of the KCC building). The round table is free and open to the public. For more information or to register, please contact Michael Deupree at 785.271.3125 or by email at m.deupree at kcc dot ks dot gov. Solar Roundtable Agenda:Overview of Economic & Financial Aspects of U.S. Solar Power
Regulatory Issues with Solar Power
Kansas Specific Insights Regarding Solar Power
Photovoltaic Current & Near Term: Technology & Cost Structure
SunEdison: A Private Sector Perspective
RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT – OVERVIEW OF ENERGY PROVISIONS Energy Tax incentives
Electrical Grid Projects
Renewable Electric Power Loan Guarantees
Residential Weatherization Assistance
Advanced Energy Investment Credit
Production Tax Credit for Renewable Electricity Projects
Election to Claim Investment Tax Credit in Lieu of Production Tax Credit
Repeal of Limitations on Credit for Renewable Energy Property
Treasury Department Energy Grants in Lieu of Tax Credit
Clean Renewable Energy Bonds
Qualified Energy Conservation Bonds
Credit for Non-business & Residential Energy Property
Consumer Vehicle Incentives
Increase Amounts of Alternative Fuel Pump Credits
Carbon Capture & Sequestration
Parity for Transportation Benefits
Federal Building Modifications
Energy Efficiency Block Grants
State Energy Program
Energy Research & Development
Alternative Battery Technology
Alternative Fuel Vehicles Pilot Grant Program
Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate Program
Transportation Electrification
Alternatively Fueled Federal Vehicle Fleets
Carbon Sequestration
Power Administration Borrowing Authority
PRESIDENT OBAMA PROMISES 'NEW ERA' OF ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY BUILT ON FOUNDATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY Washington, D.C., January 26, 2009 – Stating emphatically that “No single issue is as imperative to the economy as energy,” President Obama today began to lay the foundation – rapid and widespread deployment of energy efficiency – for a new, clean energy era for the nation, the Alliance to Save Energy noted. President Obama’s quick action, taken after less than one full week in office, was hailed by Alliance President Kateri Callahan. She, along with Alliance Director of Policy Lowell Ungar and other environmental and efficiency leaders from across the country, were invited to the White House to witness what appears to be a paradigm shift in the federal government’s approach to energy and environmental policy and a new commitment to achieving the full potential of energy efficiency in order to improve our nation’s energy security. “President Obama is fulfilling his campaign promise to create a clean energy economy with incredible speed and determination of purpose,” said Callahan. She added, “He is moving full-steam-ahead on energy efficiency, not despite but because of the fragile state of the economy.” President Obama signed memoranda at a White House ceremony today directing the Transportation Department to establish higher fuel economy standards for vehicles by model year 2011 and directing the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the bid by California and 13 other states to set tailpipe carbon dioxide emission standards that also would require greater fuel economy. In his statement, Obama also confirmed his intent to weatherize 2 million homes over the next two years; make significant energy efficiency upgrades to 75 percent of federal buildings, saving taxpayers $2 billion in avoided energy costs; double the country’s renewable energy resource base; and create nearly 500,000 new “green jobs.” President Obama stated clearly and forcefully that today’s action is but the first salvo in what he described as a “steady, focused, and pragmatic approach” to a new energy future. SALES TAX HOLIDAY FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES Beginning in 2009, the state of Missouri is offering consumers a seven-day exemption from sales taxes on certain Energy Star certified new appliances up to $1,500 per appliance. The sales tax holiday will last from April 19 - April 25 each year for the following appliances:
Cities, counties and other Missouri political subdivisions that collect local sales taxes may allow the sales tax holiday by adopting an ordinance to that effect and notifying the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) at least 45 days in advance of the holiday. The exemption does not apply to retailers if less than 2% of their merchandise qualifies for the holiday, in which case the retailer must offer customers a sales tax refund in lieu of the sales tax holiday. The state sales tax rate is 4.225%. Further information on local sales taxes is available from the Missouri Department of Revenue http://dor.mo.gov/tax/business/sales/ . MORE ON “GREEN” TAX CREDIT IN 2009 In 2008, Congress was contemplating how to include the continuation of energy efficiency tax credits in the “economic bailout.” Well, they did it, and even managed to increase some of the incentives. Here is a brief run-down of the credits available in 2009:
Homeowners should also check the DSIRE website for applicable state tax credits. Businesses can also get in on the act. They are eligible for the hybrid vehicle incentives and incentives for energy efficient buildings. Businesses that sell new energy efficient homes (through 2009) or efficient appliances (through 2010) can take tax credits on these products that may reduce the cost to consumers. For more on tax credits for businesses, builders, and consumers, see Tax Incentives Assistance Project, or The Alliance to Save Energy. Of course, you should check with your tax preparer for more information on how these credits effect you, and what paperwork needs to be completed. Turning out the lights on CFLs Energy efficiency experts have long pointed to compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb as a home run for energy savings. But not everyone agrees that mercury-containing CFLs are the best solution. The founders of a Vu1, a new Seattle-based company say they have a product for CFL nay-sayers: an entirely new bulb that would supplant CFLs at much less the cost of light emitting diodes (LEDs). Vu1 in December 2008 raised $5 million in a private equity round to get through the independent testing process and the final stages of development. It’s planning to launch its first product in April 2009. CFLs may be common—they grabbed about 20 percent of the market in 2007—but, even though they use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, they are not universally adored. Notably, each one contains a few grams of mercury, enough that many locales require them to be disposed of as hazardous waste. In 2007, Congress passed a law mandating a phased switch to bulbs 30 percent more efficient than incandescents starting in 2012, Many think it paves the way for LEDs. Vu1, however, is preparing to launch an all new bulb that would be manufactured without toxins and would meet the law's most stringent requirements. The bulb, made with Electron Stimulated Luminescence (ESL) lighting technology, would work in applications where CFLs do not, such as recessed can lighting or on dimmers. Vu1 claims the bulbs are much cheaper to make than LEDs, according to Ron Davis, the company’s chief marketing officer. “By the time they get down to $30, I'll be selling mine for $7,” Davis says. While the bulbs go through the final testing phase, Davis says he is talking to a number of utilities that are interested in purchasing and distributing the bulbs to their customers. He says the company plans to launch another fundraising round to raise $10 million to $20 million. The money would be used to take Vu1 through its first year of commercialization. Chu Stresses Change of Focus at Energy Department (from CQ Politics Midday report)Physicist Steven Chu, President-elect Barack Obama 's nominee to be Energy secretary, Tuesday said his leadership would focus on tackling climate change and encouraging renewable energy technologies. "Renewable energy is something we really have to work on as quickly as possible . . . It will be my primary goal as secretary to make the Department of Energy a leader in these critical efforts," Chu, a Nobel Prize winner and director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, told members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at his confirmation hearing. Chu's comments signaled a major shift in the department's traditional portfolio, which has primarily centered on nuclear weapons and nuclear science programs. It's also likely to elevate what has long been viewed in Washington as a second-tier agency into a leading entity in realizing the energy and climate goals Obama says will be among his top priorities. "There was a period when there was very little interest in the government and general public on energy . . . now there's a great deal of interest on all sides. Dr. Chu's nomination comes at a pivotal time in the department's history," panel Chairman Jeff Bingaman , D-N.M., said. Republicans and Democrats both praised Chu and said they expected the Senate to confirm him. Bingaman said he hopes to have a confirmation vote Jan. 20, after Obama is inaugurated. Lawmakers also pressed Chu on his views on the future of coal and nuclear power, particularly in light of a 2007 comment he made saying that burning coal to generate power is an environmental "nightmare." Chu offered assurances that under his leadership, the Energy Department would invest heavily in researching so-called "clean coal" technology, which captures and sequesters carbon emissions, and in reprocessing and recycling nuclear waste, although he did not go into detail. "Coal and nuclear form the baseload of electricity today. It cannot happen overnight, the nurturing of renewable resources. I think we need all the solutions, we need to make them as clean as possible as quickly as possible," he said. Senators, Obama Team Discuss Doubling Energy Tax Credits in Stimulus Democratic senators emerged from a Sunday afternoon meeting with President-elect Barack Obama ’s advisers saying progress is being made on an economic recovery bill, with lawmakers’ ideas in such areas as energy tax credits gaining traction. Senators have emphasized that they would like to see the stimulus or recovery bill (S1) include more funding and tax breaks for renewable energy and conservation programs than the Obama team had originally proposed. To that end, several senators said discussions have moved from including $10 billion worth of credits in the package to $20 billion to $25 billion. “They’re moving in our direction,” said Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer , D-Calif. Charles E. Schumer , D-N.Y., and Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman , D-N.M., said part of the discussion on the energy provisions is whether it would be better to move at least some of the proposals as a separate bill. Bingaman said his preference is to put as much as possible in the stimulus bill. “I think the general rule is to do all you can when you can,” he said. Senators met for more than an hour with Lawrence H. Summers, slated to head the White House National Economic Council, as a follow up to a Thursday meeting, and said they believe a bill can be enacted by the middle of February. Democrats have been pushing back against the idea that there are any serious divisions between Obama and congressional Democrats over the package, describing any differences as a routine part of the legislative process. “They are doing it exactly right,” Schumer said. “They’ve put together the broad outlines and they are asking us to fill in some of the detail and there is a heckuva a lot of knowledge on the Hill.” But there is still skepticism over a proposal from the Obama team to offer a $3,000-per-job tax credit for businesses, with some congressional Democrats arguing it would be difficult to measure job creation and wondering if it would actually encourage businesses to hire. “I’ve always wondered about the efficiency of that,” said Benjamin L. Cardin , D-Md. “I think they have to justify it and show us how it works.” Obama and Democrats have emphasized that the main focus of their bill is to create jobs, with the transition team releasing a report this weekend that claims the emerging bill could create up to 3.7 million more jobs than if nothing is done. Both Schumer and Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad , D-N.D., said they believe the total cost of the bill will be in the neighborhood of what Obama has proposed, which is $775 billion. Senators said there is still a lot of work left to be done on the bill, with myriad issues left to be decided. For instance, some senators are pushing for a patch of the alternative minimum tax to be included, a move that could upset House deficit hawks. “This package still has some shaping to do,” said Sen. John Kerry , D-Mass. New 5 KW Solar Array in Downtown KC CFM Distributors, an energy efficient heating and air conditioning equipment company, recently installed a very large 5 kilowatt solar array (click on the title above to see picture). The installation was a joint project with KCP&L and The Energy Savings Store. KCP&L is interested in offsetting carbon emissions from their new coal-burning power plant. CFM's President, Tom Roberts, has a deep commitment to the environment and to saving money. His building in the West Bottoms has many other energy efficient features including lighting, HVAC, and a "green" parking lot.
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