Klobuchar, Hoeven Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Nonprofits Save Money on Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Press Release

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Hoeven (R-ND) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help nonprofits save money on energy efficiency upgrades. The Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act would create a grant program to help nonprofits--including places of worship, faith-based organizations, and youth centers--afford the materials needed to improve their buildings' energy efficiency and generate renewable energy.

"By helping nonprofits become more energy efficient, they will be able to allocate more resources to their core missions," said Klobuchar. "This bipartisan legislation is a win-win--it's beneficial for the environment, nonprofits, and the communities they serve."

"This legislation is about helping non-profits, including faith-based organizations and youth centers, invest in improvements and updates to make their facilities more energy efficient," said Hoeven. "These upgrades will enable these organizations to improve their energy usage and lower operating costs so they can invest more of their limited resources into providing valuable services to their communities."

The legislation would provide $10 million each year for the next five years to create a pilot grant program at the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) to support nonprofits in purchasing materials for energy efficiency projects. The grants would promote energy efficiency by supporting the purchase of materials for upgrades to existing infrastructure as well as renewable energy generators and heaters. Nonprofits could apply for grants up to $200,000. The legislation is supported by the National Council of Churches, the YMCA of the USA, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, among other organizations.

In 2016, a provision based on Klobuchar and Hoeven's Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act passed the Senate as part of the bipartisan energy bill.

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