Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), lead the charge to include more energy efficiency standards in a bill reauthorizing the HOPE VI public housing program (HR 3524).
In the September 26, 2007, House Financial Services Committee markup, Perlmutter, as chair of the Financial Services Committee Energy Efficiency Task Force, spearheaded the inclusion of provisions requiring public housing authorities to institute Green Communities, LEED, or other similarly approved energy efficiency building standards, in all new public housing developments built in accordance with the HOPE VI public housing program.
Perlmutter stated, “I am pleased to see these important provisions included in the HOPE VI legislation. Quite simply, instituting these principles in all facets of our lives is good for national security, good for the climate and good for jobs. Our Energy Efficiency Task Force has been working throughout the summer to develop ways to promote energy efficiency throughout the financial services and housing sectors encouraging individuals to buy and build in an energy efficient manner.”
The HOPE VI program is a Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant program providing for the rehabilitation and rejuvenation of distressed public housing projects. The program was created in 1992.
Perlmutter was asked by Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank to head an Energy Efficiency task force for the committee and also to work to keep these key energy efficiency provisions in the HOPE VI housing bill. Perlmutter and members of the Energy Efficiency Task Force also are working on another legislative package promoting energy efficiency standards for the committee.
The HOPE VI bill now moves to the floor for full House consideration.
