my house progresses DESPITE congress

thanks to sonja mcsweet, last night i hired a plumber, matt; carpenter, andy; and sheet rocker (is that what they are called because how awesome!), louis. today after having a warranty added to my contract i will hire a mason, oscar. there is a stiff competition going on between ron and clyde for my hvac job. it is pretty fun, but also a bit scary! what if i run out of money???

everything i am doing is going to be as energy efficient as i can afford. and the hvac system is going to be über energy efficient, and i am just going to spend the money for that. i just figure that this is one thing that is worth investing in now. fireplaces will have to wait. and i will get cheaper kitchen cabinets and some stuff will just have to wait. but this will last at least 15 years and if i am still there that means 15 years of saving money, energy and carbon footprinting.

the problem is our stupid congress did not extend the mediocre tax incentives from 2005 that would allow me to get a bit of a tax break for reducing my carbon emissions to about zero. jerks! i am so mad. seems like with gas prices this high, america really should be looking to alternatives. instead congress didn't pass this bill by ONE vote!!! the bill that would have extended the tax incentives (which again were quite lame, and i can explain that a bit later) there was strong support for the bill except for a clause about how the incentives would be paid for. the bill reascended government subsidies to oil companies. and republicans balked...arg!!!!!!!!!!

what is the problem with these people? oil companies are making more money than ever and our government insists on providing them with subsidies??!!! we are in debt past our noses AND people can't afford fuel or energy. seriously.. i got the info below from here. if this makes you mad, please send a note to your senator and representative. here is a way to get to your representative fast. this is a way to get to your senator. since i don't have a representative or a senator, i feel kinda like my hands are tied. and consider yourself lucky to be able to write the note when you do it, i would love that right!

In December, 2007, legislation to extend several of the Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives fell one vote short of the 60 required to end a filibuster in the Senate. The provision had broad support, but there was opposition to the mechanism proposed to pay for these tax incentives (rescinding a tax break for large oil companies). Some incentives were extended through 2008 by the 109th Congress, in December 2006. Click here for details. As of December 31, 2007, however, the majority of the energy efficiency incentives provided under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 have expired.

Congressional leadership has said they will look for opportunities to reenact these incentives in 2008.

The provisions include:

• An extension of the commercial buildings tax deduction to the end of 2013.
• A one-year extension of the tax credit for efficient furnaces, boilers, air conditioners, water heaters and insulation and window upgrades to existing homes covers 2008).
• Three-years of manufacturer tax credits for sales of high-efficiency refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers, and dehumidifiers (2008-2010).
• An extension of the tax credit for residential solar systems and addition of a residential wind energy credit to the end of 2014.
• A new tax credit for plug-in hybrid vehicles purchased starting in 2008 and extending until caps on the number of qualifying vehicles are reached.
• A new 10% investment tax credit for combined heat and power (CHP) and recycled energy systems placed in service between 2008 and 2017.
• An extension of fuel cell and microturbine credits to the end of 2016.
• Accelerated depreciation for two-way meters used in electric time-of-use and demand-response programs.

Click here to download a copy of these sections of the bill (1,686 KB). Pertinent sections are pages 841-864, 919-930, and 951-961.

Click here for information on state level incentives.

For more information, see these links:

• ACEEE's detailed summary of the 2007 federal energy legislation
• The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (energy-efficiency tax incentives are Sections 1331—1341, beginning on pg. 427)
• Analyses of the Federal Energy Policy Act of 2005 from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
• Energy Bill information from the Alliance to Save Energy