The Senate has approved – by an 85-12 vote – a bill that would provide energy efficiency grants to non-profit institutions, according to The Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
The story says that The Energy Policy Modernization Act was authored by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Hoeven (R-ND). It grants as much as $200,000 to non-profits – including faith-based organizations – for HVAC, window and door and other upgrades, the story says. A number of religious organizations lobbied for the bill.
The bill, which the story says sought to bypass controversial elements such as climate change, will go to conference committee, where it will be reconciled with a House bill that passed last year.
The potential bill is not the only way in which the government will help generate energy efficiencies. Last month the U.S. Department of Energy said it will award 33 businesses $6.7 million in funding to participate in an energy efficiency pilot program.
