In view of the coming heating fuel crisis, the Maine Community Action Association issued the following federal and state energy policy recommendations during a news conference Thursday in Lewiston.
The MCAA urged Congress to:
. Raise income eligibility limits for LIHEAP and fund the program at $25 billion, an amount roughly equivalent to the fivefold increase in oil prices since 2002.
. Appropriate $3 billion for home energy conservation through the Weatherization Program, which is at its lowest funding level in nearly 20 years. All households below the state median income would be eligible to participate.
. Instruct HUD to make “Community Based Housing Development Organization” funds available to help build and sustain a community-based effort to address heating needs. These funds are available under HUD’s HOME program.
. Appropriate $100 million for wood-based heating pilot projects to further develop possibilities in northern timber states.
. Provide an additional $200 million to the Community Services Block Grant program for use by community action agencies in their effort to help the tens of thousands of families in Maine and the millions across the country who will be at risk this winter.
. Allow the use of Independent Development Accounts for energy conservation improvements.
The MCAA called upon the state to:
. Appropriate $20 million to address the high number of “no heat” situations its member agencies foresee for the coming winter.
. Ask the PUC to explore changes in the “lifeline” project for very low-income Maine households.
. Expand the appliance replacement program.
. Provide additional financial support to the community-based organizations engaged in helping the tens of thousands of Maine families expected to face a heating crisis this winter.
. Appropriate $10 million to support a program of conversions to wood-based heating technologies.
. Call together the state’s best scientists, engineers, utility experts, financial experts, consumer advocates and others to develop a long-range plan of investment aimed at freeing Mainers from foreign oil through efforts and innovations in wind, solar, tidal, geothermal energy, superinsulation and other areas of exploration.
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