The Senate passed legislation to extend the ENERGY STAR Tax Credit for manufactured and modular homes for one-year. The package included more than $30 billion in one-year extensions of tax breaks that lapsed last year. The Senate’s approval of this legislation represents a significant victory for MHI and our customers in getting one step closer to ensuring these very important tax credits remain available.

Manufacturers who build ENERGY STAR homes are eligible to receive a $1,000 tax credit for each home built, while modular home builders are eligible to receive a $2,000 tax credit by exceeding the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by 50 percent. The tax credit expired at the end of 2009, but this package extends the credit through 2010 – and would be retroactive to all ENERGY STAR homes built in 2010.

This tax credit is a critical component of broader Congressional efforts to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in our nation’s built environment. MHI, along with its broad-based coalition of energy efficiency and environmental organizations, housing associations, public interest groups and corporations have expressed strong support to all members of Congress urging them to extend the ENERGY STAR tax credit for manufactured and modular homes.

Since the Senate tax package legislation is different from the House tax package legislation, it is unclear at this point how the two proposals will be reconciled- but MHI will be working closely with Congress to ensure the tax extenders remain in the final package over the coming weeks.

MHI extends special thanks to Karen Brown-Mohr, Executive Director of Manufactured Housing Association of Maine for her grassroots efforts on behalf of the industry and Emanuel Levy, Executive Director, Systems Building Research Alliance for his technical support.

If you are a MHI member and have any questions, contact Rae Ann Bevington at Rbevington@mfghome.org.