URGENT: Ask your AR Representative to vote YES on SB516 for clean energy TODAY

Dear Friend,

We have one last chance to do something positive for energy consumers and for the environment today - but we need your help.  Yesterday, the AR House defeated SB516 that provides low-interest financing to people wanting to make energy efficiency or renewable energy improvements to their homes. It would make energy improvements accessible to middle and low-income people. TODAY is the last day of the session and the last chance for the bill to be passed. This means jobs and energy savings for Arkansans.

Contact your Rep. right away!  If you don't know who your Representative is, find out here.

More info about why SB516 is important can be found here, and below. Please contact your Rep., and forward this to your friends!



SB516 was not passed in the House yesterday. It had no opposition in the Senate Committee, Senate or House Committee. However, we did get votes from both parties on this bill.

This bill is the result of a year-long study by the Legislative Task Force on Sustainable Building and was well researched and vetted extensively. We brought experts in from many locales including representatives who have worked with numerous states to establish similar programs. This is the only legislative recommendation coming from the Task Force as a result of spending so much time on this one issue.

Please reach out to your Representative and ask them to reconsider the bill and it's importance to the State of Arkansas.

This bill does not create an Energy Improvement District, it does not issue any bonds and it does not obligate anyone to participate or do anything. ALL this does is allow those communities that want to establish such districts permission to do so and provides a framework for establishing a district.

Find more info here, and see yesterday's vote on SB516 here.

The Citizens First Congress is a grassroots coalition of 49 community groups from across Arkansas that works on progressive reform at the Arkansas Legislature.

• Improve opportunities to learn for all students.
• Expand the ARKids First health insurance program.
• Require the oil and gas industry to follow best management practices.
• Oppose state-level immigration reform.
• Support fair tax reform.
• Implement fair energy policies.
• Develop a new state water plan.
• Support the DREAM Act.
• Increase penalties for wage theft.
• Reform prison sentencing practices.

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