Bill would boost sales of efficient appliances
A broad alliance of business, conservation, faith, utility and other groups has rallied behind State Sen. Craig Pridemore’s (D-Vancouver) Affordable Efficient Appliances bill, a measure that could save state consumers millions of dollars through lower utility bills.
State households and businesses could save millions
OLYMPIA -- A broad alliance of business, conservation, faith, utility and other groups has rallied behind State Sen. Craig Pridemore’s (D-Vancouver) Affordable Efficient Appliances bill, a measure that could save state consumers millions of dollars through lower utility bills.
The bill, sponsored in the House by Rep. Troy Kelley (D-University Place), would provide a 2-year sales-tax exemption on purchases of super-efficient appliances – furnaces, heat pumps, water heaters, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, etc. – for homes, restaurants and institutional kitchens.
Purchase price can be a barrier for family and business consumers, even when they know that energy- and water-efficient equipment will substantially lower their operational costs year after year. Eliminating the sales tax will narrow the cost gap between conventional appliances and those designed to use far less energy and water.”
The exemption is estimated to reduce state and local sales-tax revenues by about $750,000 each of the two years. But compared to the costs of operating conventional models, consumer savings are estimated at about $570,000 a year throughout the 8- to 15-year lives of the appliances.
A new efficient front-loading washing machine, for example, can reduce hot-water use 60-70 percent; replacing a 1973 refrigerator with a new energy-efficient model avoids 1.4 tons of climate-changing carbon dioxide a year.
“We can lower bills, protect our water resources, use less energy and therefore reduce climate-change pollution,” said Kim Drury of the NW Energy Coalition, a prime supporter of the bill. “Everyone wins – consumers, businesses and utilities, along with the environment.”
A growing supporters list confirms the bill’s “win-win” nature. Endorsers include American Rivers, Audubon Washington, Avista Utilities, Climate Solutions, eFormative Options LLC, Earth Ministry, Environment Washington, Fuse Washington, Northwest Energy Efficiency Council, Sierra Club, Washington Food Industry, Washington Environmental Council and the Washington Public Utility Districts Asso.
For more information, contact …
Kim Drury, NW Energy Coalition, (206) 621-0094
or
Go to the Washington 2008 Legislative Bills section of NW Energy Coalition's webpage