MHI member Stacey Epperson, President of Frontier Housing of Kentucky, testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee this week. Her testimony was on behalf of a coalition including MHI and other housing and energy groups in support of a proposal which provides incentives to homeowners of pre-1976 mobile homes to replace those homes with Energy Star manufactured homes. Specifically, the legislation offers a $7500 grant to facilitate the purchase of a new Energy Star home. This legislation is included in S. 1320, a bill introduced by Senator Jon Tester (MT-D), the “Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Act of 2009,” which is the companion legislation to H.R. 1749 introduced by Congressman Baron Hill (IN-9th-D) in the House which passed last year.

The purpose of the Senate hearing was to review legislative proposals designed to create jobs related to energy efficiency. The Honorable Catherine Zoi, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, also testified during the hearing. Energy and Natural Resources Committee members in attendance included: Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Ranking Member Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Bernard Sanders (IN-VT), Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).

Jobs and stimulating the economy is high on the priority list for legislators in 2010. Senate leaders are currently crafting a multi-bill jobs agenda. MHI strongly supports the inclusion of S. 1320, the “Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Act of 2009” within the “Jobs for Main Street” package. If you are a member and have questions, contact Rae Ann Bevington at 703-558-0675 or RBevington@mfghome.org.