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Sen. Brown touts weatherization programs to boost Ohio economy

April 16, 2009

Sen. Brown touts weatherization programs to boost Ohio economy

BY BRIAN GADD
For The Advocate

ZANESVILLE -- U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown touted projected job creation from the federal stimulus for weatherization assistance programs Wednesday.

Brown hosted a roundtable discussion Wednesday at the Muskingum Economic Opportunity Action Group in Zanesville.

Ohio is slated to receive $267 million to help needy families make insulation and other energy efficiency improvements in the face of rising utility costs.

"The weatherization program employs Ohio workers, using Ohio products, to lower energy costs of our state's homeowners," Brown said. "This program is not just about reducing energy use -- it's about job creation and economic development in the region."

Brown said as many as 600 new jobs could be created as community action agencies hire more weatherization technicians, and the number of low-income and elderly residents aided by the program could be doubled, tripled or even quadrupled in coming years.

Blown-in and rolled insulation will be bought from Ohio companies in places like Newark, and homeowners could receive help with more energy-efficient windows, hot-water heaters and furnaces.

Owens Corning's Newark plant specializes in home insulation.

Brown added that the savings in utility costs could lead to a decline in demand for million of barrels of foreign oil every year.

Job creation was touted in the form of one of the Muskingum action group's newest hires, Rick Smith, of Zanesville, who has been on the job as a weatherization tech for the past two months.

Smith said he was grateful for the opportunity to secure employment after he lost his job when Hartstone Pottery in Zanesville closed.

Brown also highlighted training opportunities available to Ohioans seeking to become certified in weatherization techniques. Five weatherization training centers are located across Ohio -- in Dayton, Athens, Akron, Fremont and Newark.

Tom Calhoun, housing programs manager of the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development in Athens, said his agency recently hired more than 100 new workers and expects the weatherization funds passed by the economic recovery legislation to increase his total work force by another 100 employees.

"We will be investing $41 million in Southeastern Ohio, provide weatherization to 4,000 homes, train workers, purchase trucks and use local products," Calhoun said. "I'm excited about this stimulus. It is going to be a good thing, a blessing for people."

President Barack Obama has a goal of providing weatherization assistance to 1 million homeowners a year, after the program reached 6.2 million homes during the past 35 years.

WAP Mentions in Blogs

Below are some recent mentions of WAP in the blogosphere:

Win-Win-Win Weatherization
True Blue Natural Gas Blog from the American Gas Association

Weatherization Assistance Program
The Quotidian Bleat

Need Help Weatherizing your House?
Boots on the Roof: Training for the Wind and Solar Energy Industry

Triple Play: Greenhouse Gas Reductions, Energy Conservation, and Green Jobs Bill Passes the Legislature (WA)
Senate Democrats Blog, Washington State

Take Advantage of the Government's Weatherization Assistance Program
Planet Green

Preserving Old Homes with Stimulus Money?
Old House Web, Ideas & Advice for Old House Enthusiasts

This Old Wasteful House
New York Times Op-Ed

Apartment Industry Ready to See Green Stimulus Money Put to Use
Multi-Family Executive Online

Construction Workers on "Stimulus" Projects will Receive Prevailing Wages
Sunburst Software Solutions, Inc. Blog

Weatherization Program Could Help Safeguard Houses Against Disasters
Disaster Safety Blog

Home Insulation Program Takes Heat
Stateline.org

Senator Rockefeller Visits Martinsburg Weatherization Site

~Under the Economic Recovery Package, more than 3,000 additional homes will be weatherized and up to 125 new jobs will be created~

Washington, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV visited the home of Martinsburg resident, David Babcock, on Friday, March 20, 2009. (Picture above is Senator Rockefeller talking to Eastern West Virginia CAA Weatherization Coordinator Bob Wagner.)

In September 2008, the Eastern West Virginia Community Action Agency weatherized Babcock’s house - replacing his furnace, sealing his ductwork, and insulating his attic. Under the Economic Recovery Package, more than 3,000 additional homes will be weatherized and as many as 125 new jobs will be created.

“I was so thankful to be invited into David’s house to see the great work of the Eastern West Virginia Community Action Agency,” said Senator Rockefeller. “The weatherization program is making an impact in West Virginia, creating new jobs across the state while improving the energy efficiency of homes and reducing utility bills.”

West Virginia is estimated to receive $70 million, with $37.5 million for weatherization and $32.7 million for the State Energy Program. The program offers rebates to consumers for home energy audits and other energy savings improvements.

“It was an honor to show Mr. Babcock’s home to Senator Rockefeller, so he could see firsthand the good work we are doing to weatherize homes in West Virginia,” said Bob Wagner, the weatherization coordinator for Eastern West Virginia Community Action. “This money secured in the stimulus package will go toward helping people lower their energy costs, and create local jobs right here at home.”

“It was a real thrill to have Senator Rockefeller into my home to witness what the weatherization team can accomplish. This weatherization program has made a significant difference in my monthly bills—I save over 50% of the estimated utility costs. I hope people will reach out and take advantage of the program—it’s a good thing and it’s green,” said David Babcock, a Martinsburg resident who opened his home to Senator Rockefeller on Friday.

Background

Community Action Agencies across West Virginia are accepting weatherization applications. The weatherization process includes: checking and repairing or replacing heating systems, insulating attics and sidewalls, sealing air leaks, weatherstripping and/or replacing door and windows, and insulating hot water heaters and pipes.

This program is free if you meet annual low income guidelines, and have not been weatherized since September 30, 1994.

Supplemental Social Security (SSI) income automatically qualifies. Income guidelines examples (annual gross income from all household income sources):

Persons in House Income NOT Exceeding

1 $21,660

2 $29,140

3 $36,620

4 $44,100

5 $51,580

6 $59,060

For a list of contacts for all of West Virginia’s Community Action Agencies, visit: http://wvcommunityactionpartnership.org/wvcapagencies.html.

Stimulus Jobs Already Starting Before Money Arrives

March 23, 2009, By GARY CHITTIM / KING 5 News

BURIEN, Wash. – Federal stimulus checks haven’t arrived in Washington state yet, but some agencies aren’t waiting around. They’re already ramping up, and it’s having an economic effect.

A month ago, his Ben Uskoski’s contracting business was tanking and he had to make a decision.

"I was an electrician before I went out on my own so I said, ‘I can do electrical work,’” said Uskoski.

That proved to be the right decision because Michael Kim of Advance Energy Management just happened to need electricians -- a lot of them.

"Put an ad out on Craigslist and literally got bombarded with phone calls in the first couple of hours,” said Kim.

One of the first was Uskoski and the stimulus trigger was pulled.

Kim needed 23 electricians to weatherize a low income housing apartment complex in South King County. Usoski called everyone he knew and 23 electricians suddenly went from laid off to gainfully employed, installing new energy efficient light fixtures and bathroom fans in the sprawling complex.

That's when he gave Platt Electric down in Tacoma a call.

"He asked me if I was sitting down, then when this first came up and just the magnitude of the order was phenomenal,” said Doug Lind of Platt Electric.

Platt suddenly had enough demand during an economic downturn keep his workers busy and prevent any more layoffs.

It all started with a King County Housing Authority weatherization project that is funded by federal stimulus dollars that aren't expected until next month, but are already putting food some local tables.

But this is a very small example. It will be some time before we see how it plays out on a much grander national scale.

View video of this report here: http://www.king5.com/video/index.html?nvid=344809&shu=1