Energy Efficiency Savings Goal Act of 2009 -- HB 1903

This will increase energy efficiency, save consumers money and create Arkansas jobs by:

• Expanding existing utility company programs that help improve homes and businesses to be more energy efficient.
  
• Making available to all Arkansans free or low-cost energy audits, rebates and incentives for insulation, weatherization and other energy saving strategies.
  
• Promoting energy efficiency in public structures such as schools and local and state government buildings.
  
• expanding the manufacturing involved with energy efficiency.  These sectors create approx. 8.4 jobs per $1 million invested, compared to 1.4 jobs per $1 million invested in other utility services.
• Focusing on the much cheaper strategy of saving energy rather than building new power sources.  Efficiency costs about 3 to 7 TIMES less than new power plants and they provide a 2 for 1 return on every dollar invested. 
• Putting Arkansans to work upgrading our infrastructure and improving our buildings

Investing small amounts now avoids much higher costs in the future.

• This program will be phased in slowly over 5 years with a maximum utility bill increase of $1.50 per month, which is much lower than the estimated $15 more that would be needed to build new power plants.
• We can’t afford NOT to make these investments.

This approach has been proven in other states.

• Eighteen states have established similar programs proven to be the lowest-cost, highest-job-creating methods of meeting energy needs.

Current programs in Arkansas aren’t doing enough.

• Arkansas ranks near the bottom tier of states for energy efficiency, with only small pilot programs in place.
• The Arkansas Public Service Commission recently agreed that energy efficiency is the least expensive way to meet growing energy demand.
• We are behind the curve and this is the best way to catch up.