Wilkowski Energy Efficiency Plan to be announced – updated!
This in via e-mail from the Wilkowski for Mayor campaign:
Wilkowski Unveils Plan to Create Jobs,
Put Toledoans to Work and Save Homeowners Millions on Utility Bills
Toledo Democratic mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski will unveil his plan to create 4,300 good-paying, green jobs which will get Toledo’s economy moving again. The Wilkowski Energy Efficiency Plan will provide every Toledo homeowner the opportunity to upgrade their homes, use less energy and save money on their utility bills.
“We have 130,000 housing units in Toledo; and, if just two-thirds of the property owners participate in this voluntary program, we will create thousands of jobs for workers in the building and electrical trades,” said Wilkowski.
WHO: Toledo Democratic Mayoral Candidate Keith Wilkowski
WHAT: Announces Details of the Wilkowski Energy Efficiency Plan
WHEN: 1 p.m. – Monday, June 1, 2009
WHERE: 909 Front Street (Northwest Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council office)
“It’s time for Toledo to join the growing list of communities that are taking their fate into their own hands,” said Wilkowski. “I believe in this program, and I’m prepared to lead Toledo forward in the New Energy Economy.”
Updated 7:08 p.m.:
Today I am announcing the basic concepts forming the Wilkowski Energy Efficiency program. If implemented fully and properly, the Wilkowski Energy Efficiency program will:
* Create new jobs and put thousands of Toledoans to work.
* Save Toledo homeowners millions of dollars on their utility bills by reducing those bills by 30 to 40 percent.
* Improve Toledo’s housing stock by retrofitting residential housing units and making them more energy efficient.
* Include a solar energy component to boost Toledo’s growing solar energy industry.
Here is an overview of this bold, innovative and environmentally sound program that is patterned on undertakings that are underway in other cities around the country.
Creating Good Green Jobs
This plan will put people to work by creating up to 4,300 good, green jobs … most of which will be located in Toledo … and help get our local economy moving again. We have 130,000 housing units in Toledo; and, if just two-thirds of our residents participate in this voluntary program, we will create jobs for workers in the building and electrical trades, as well as for heating and air conditioning installers and others.
Retrofitting Homes – Saving Toledoans Money by Reducing Energy Bills
Under this program, all homeowners in Toledo will have the opportunity to make their homes more energy efficient by increasing the amount of insulation in attics and crawl spaces, and making other changes such as sealing cracks, installing a programmable thermostat, a new energy efficient shower head and replacing light bulbs.
This is a voluntary program. Toledo residents who choose to participate will spread the cost of the improvements … on average estimated to be $4,000 … over 10 years on their monthly utility bills. Even as homeowners are paying back the cost of the retrofit, their monthly utility bills will be lower because their homes will be more energy efficient. After the costs are paid back, the homeowners will enjoy the full benefit of their reduced energy bills.
How Will It Be Funded?
Today, I am calling on Toledo City Council to allocate $50,000 from the $3.1 million the city is set to receive in federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funds to begin this program. This federal money must be spent on energy efficiency programs and is not available for any other General Fund purposes.
The $50,000 planning money from that federal block grant will be used to fully develop a plan to attract private dollars, federal and state grants, and other resources to fund a city-wide energy efficiency program. Individual homeowners will pay for the costs of the improvements to their homes over 10 years through their utility bills. This is the same model that exists in New York State, and it has the support of a wide cross-section of people and organizations.
Such a public/private partnership will require a high degree of cooperation between many interested parties, including city officials, utility companies, finance experts, the contracting community, the building trades, and others. And, it will require thoughtful and careful planning. So, I’m asking City Council to use this $50,000 investment to bring together the right people to plan and implement this important program for our community.
A $50,000 dollar investment to put in place a program that will save Toledo homeowners $72 million per year on their utility bills and put up to 4,300 people to work should be an easy call.
A Toledo Solar Energy Component.
Energy efficiency programs typically rely upon traditional building modification to save energy, such as caulking and insulation. Increasingly, however, solar energy is emerging as an alternative energy source. The limitation on the use of solar revolves around issues of cost and payback. Innovations are happening every day, however, with cost coming down and efficiency going up. We must give Toledo’s growing solar industry the opportunity to play a role in any city-wide energy efficiency program. Therefore, any plan that is developed should examine ways to allow homeowners to install solar and other alternative energy facilities (for example, residential scale wind turbines) and to payback the cost of installing those facilities over time through their utility bills.
New Energy Economy
It’s time for Toledo to join the growing list of communities taking their fate into their own hands. From New York to Colorado, forward-looking communities already have established programs to make their homes and businesses more energy efficient.
Energy-efficiency programs require bringing many people and interest groups together. That requires good, strong public leadership. I believe in this program, and I’m prepared to lead Toledo forward in the New Energy Economy.
Please see atttached fact sheet and background information.
Good blog=) Will come back soon
June 27th, 2009 at 1:56 am