Dena Levitz, The Examiner
2006-11-17 08:00:00.0
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Montgomery County -

Often considered a leader in the field of energy conservation, Montgomery County this week premiered a program that rewards residents and businesses who make the switch to clean energy sources.

According to the Department of Environmental Protection, customers who choose eligible clean energy products will now be able to get almost 40 percent of the costs paid back by the county as an incentive.

It’s the first local program of its kind in the nation, officials said, and the hope is that it will catch on in a big way.

With cold weather expected to be the norm soon, the county also has more than $3 million in federal funds and taxpayer dollars available to help low-income residents pay their power bills.

That amount is about as much as the county usually has for utility assistance annually, but the expectation is that more applications will flood in because the income guidelines have been raised to include more residents, said Christy Mowbray, case manager for Montgomery’s Energy Assistance Program.

“It’s up to 200 percent of the poverty line,” she said. “This is the first time in a number of years that it’s been higher than 150 percent of the poverty line.”

That translates to a minimum annual income of $40,000 for a family of four in the county and a $26,400 minimum for a two-person family.

According to Mowbray, citizens in the county will have an opportunity to learn about qualifying for aid as well as ideas for general heating savings at a massive expo today in Silver Spring that officials say may draw at least 300 people.

Mowbray said the free event includes workshops at 1 and 5 p.m. on money-saving techniques anyone can use.

dlevitz@dcexaminer.com