Washington, DC — Congressman Charles K. Djou (HI-01) issued the following statement on H.R. 4785, the “Rural Energy Savings Program Act,” which was passed out of the House yesterday on a vote of 240 – 172. Congressman Djou was one of six Republicans who voted for the bill.
I have long advocated for moving our State and our country in the direction of alternative energy and greater energy efficiency. This bill, should it become law, provides important incentives for homeowners and small businesses to use energy more efficiently, which in turn benefits the entire nation.
While the majority of the Republican Conference voted against the bill, I will never put partisan interests above the best interests of the people of Hawaii. I have always said that I am first and foremost the Congressman from Hawaii.
Background:
H.R. 4785 authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), to make loans to certain public or cooperative electric utilities. Under this bill, participating cooperatives would in turn make low-interest loans to customers for energy efficient projects to their homes. The bill also creates a Home Star Energy Efficiency Loan Program administered through the Department of Energy (DOE).