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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Matt Smith |
  
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Smith's 'green buildings' bill part of state budget energy package
HARRISBURG, July 4 – State Rep. Matt Smith, D-Allegheny, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, today said energy legislation that he introduced as part of the 2008-09 state budget was passed by the General Assembly today.
Smith is the prime sponsor of legislation (Special Session H.B. 5), part of a larger energy bill passed by the House, which would provide tax credits to commercial and residential owners or tenants for the construction of "green" buildings, or the renovation of non-green buildings into green buildings. Smith's proposal was passed as part of the House Democrats' $650 million Energy Independence Strategy, providing $25 million in grants for green buildings over the next two years under the Energy Independence Fund.
Green, high-performance buildings, must meet specific size standards in order to qualify, and must also meet specific environmental standards in several areas, including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
"While I'm pleased with many parts of our new state budget's strategic investments in Pennsylvania's economic well-being without new taxes, I'm particularly proud that we've passed my plan to encourage the construction of green buildings," Smith said. "Our investment in green buildings is an important part of our state's newly passed, multimillion dollar plan to conserve energy and invest in Pennsylvania's homegrown energy.
"Green buildings not only provide more comfortable and productive workplaces, they're an essential part of our long-term strategy to use our resources more wisely. By investing in conservation measures and alternative energy on a wide scale, we can shield ourselves from foreign energy instability while we protect our environment and economy."
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