Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development approved $700,000 for Nassau County’s Green Energy Sustainable Loan Program in the FY11 Appropriations Bill. Senator Gillibrand aggressively lobbied members of the Appropriations Committee to include funding for the project in this year’s spending bill.
“Developing new, clean, homegrown sources of energy is a vital part of our economic recovery,” Senator Gillibrand said. “These dollars will make green energy more accessible and affordable for Long Island – helping to cut emissions, improve our environment, lower our energy bills, and create good paying jobs right here at home. This program makes good sense for our economy and our environment.”
“I thank Senator Gillibrand for her efforts to secure funding for Nassau County’s green energy loan fund,” said Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano. “Although we’ve cleared the first hurdle in securing these federal dollars, I am hopeful their final approval will arrive later this year.”
This project would create a sustainable loan program to help non-profits, homes, and business invest in long-term, efficient energy for their buildings, helping them lower their energy costs and establish long-term plans for sustainable energy use. Loans would be distributed to homes or businesses looking to install solar energy panels or other type of sustainable or renewable energy generator, helping to make the whole community more efficient and clean.
The legislation will head to full committee, and then to the floor for a full vote before the Senate. The bill will then proceed to the House-Senate Conference Committee, before final passage in both chambers and then to the President to become law.