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| Background on Issues More detail on issues that matter to Kansans who own historic properties.
HB 430 Background Quiche Made Here! Preserving our Preservation Tax Credits UPDATE! (as of 3/31/2010) SB 430 PASSED both houses and awaits Governor's signature. Since this bill was almost whipped into scrambled egges in Conference Committee, suupporters are especially pleased that SB430 seems to have retained the important ingrediants and appears to be the quiche they had wanted. SB430: * restores the historic tax credit program to its pre-2009 status (prior to last legislative session). * Lifts the cap July 1, 2010). * Protects credit transferability * Allows the full amount of the credit earned to be claimed. As of 3/17/2010, SB 430 passed the House and was sent back to the Senate for concurrance but on 3/19 the Senate nonconcurred, requested a Conference Committee, and appointed Senators Donovan, D. Schmidt and Holland as conferees. The House acceded (agreed to a conference committee) and Speaker O'Neal appointed Representatives Carlson, King, and Menghini. These legislators will work on the bill and try to agree on its final ingredients. What comes out of conference could resemble Quiche Lorraine or scrambled eggs. Background: Since January, the SB 430 and HB2496 have been working in tandim to reverse the unintended consequences of the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit cap imposed by the legislature last session . SB 430 was introduced in the Senate and worked by the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee where it was amended with wording from HB 2496. If SB 430 were a custard pie and HB 2496 were an omelet, what came out of the Committee, the merging of one dish with the other, would be quiche. Like quiche, SB 430 now has the best of both bills: it fixes the unintended consequences of last year's cap ; it maintains transferabilty of credits; and it does not include a comprehensive cap that would pit small projects against larger ones. Continued strong support of preservationists is requested by the bill proponents. They are asking property owners to express their support of the SB 430 to their representatives. Editor's note: Kansas of Olde supports HB 430. Quiche Made Here! Preserving our Preservation Tax Credits UPDATE! (as of 3/31/2010)
SB 430 PASSED both houses and awaits Governor's signature. Since this bill was almost whipped into scrambled egges in Conference Committee, suupporters are especially pleased that SB430 seems to have retained the important ingrediants and appears to be the quiche they had wanted. SB430: * restores the historic tax credit program to its pre-2009 status (prior to last legislative session). * Lifts the cap July 1, 2010). * Protects credit transferability * Allows the full amount of the credit earned to be claimed. As of 3/17/2010, SB 430 passed the House and was sent back to the Senate for concurrance but on 3/19 the Senate nonconcurred, requested a Conference Committee, and appointed Senators Donovan, D. Schmidt and Holland as conferees. The House acceded (agreed to a conference committee) and Speaker O'Neal appointed Representatives Carlson, King, and Menghini. These legislators will work on the bill and try to agree on its final ingredients. What comes out of conference could resemble Quiche Lorraine or scrambled eggs. Background: Since January, the SB 430 and HB2496 have been working in tandim to reverse the unintended consequences of the Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit cap imposed by the legislature last session . SB 430 was introduced in the Senate and worked by the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee where it was amended with wording from HB 2496. If SB 430 were a custard pie and HB 2496 were an omelet, what came out of the Committee, the merging of one dish with the other, would be quiche. Like quiche, SB 430 now has the best of both bills: it fixes the unintended consequences of last year's cap ; it maintains transferabilty of credits; and it does not include a comprehensive cap that would pit small projects against larger ones. Continued strong support of preservationists is requested by the bill proponents. They are asking property owners to express their support of the SB 430 to their representatives. Editor's note: Kansas of Olde supports HB 430. UPDATE: (2/11/2010 ) HB 2496 wording has been merged into SB 430 (see above)
HB 2496 would eliminate the cap on income tax credit for expenditures for restoration and preservation of certain historic structures for fiscal year 2011. Proponents of the bill say that lifting the cap for 2011 only makes sense since the cap's intended 10% savings for 2010 and 2011 has already been realized because tax credit allocations over the past year have have already declined 60-70%. The bill will be heard by the The House Taxation Committee on March 3, at 9:00 a.m. in Docking State Office Building Room 783. For more TAX CREDIT CAP Info, see Background On Issues page. Questions? Email newseditor@kansasofolde.com PDATE: (2/11/2010 ) HB 2496 wording has been merged into SB 430 (see above)
HB 2496 would eliminate the cap on income tax credit for expenditures for restoration and preservation of certain historic structures for fiscal year 2011. Proponents of the bill say that lifting the cap for 2011 only makes sense since the cap's intended 10% savings for 2010 and 2011 has already been realized because tax credit allocations over the past year have have already declined 60-70%. The bill will be heard by the The House Taxation Committee on March 3, at 9:00 a.m. in Docking State Office Building Room 783. For more TAX CREDIT CAP Info, see Background On Issues page. Questions? Email newseditor@kansasofolde.com Over the past few weeks there have been several bills proposed to try to undo the unintended consequences of the cap on Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits. The cap was a measure which was passed by the legislature last session and ammended K.S.A. 79-32,211, the provisions of the Kansas State Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program. The cap was proposed by the State Department of Revnue to address the state budget challenges by instituting a 10% haircut of some tax credits. (See background on issues.) There was also some concern that the Cap may also pit big projects against small ones as well. All three bills to correct these problems with the cap are complicated but here is a simplified summary: SB 378 maintained the 10% haircut the law intended to achieve but would do that by reducing the credit from 25% to 22.5% (or 30% down to 27% for non profits.). This bill did not make it out of committee as the committee decided to act on HB 430 (see below) instead. SB 472 would eliminate the transferability (abiltiy to buy and sell) of the tax credits. Most preservationist were against this bill because of the advantages that transferability affords them. SB 430, newly crafted, appears to be the best alternative for preservation advocates whose priorities are to ensure the cap is lifted, the transferability of the credits remain, and that legislative action reverses the unintended consequences of the cap. SB 430 does maintain the 10% haircut by allowing only 90% of the credit. It also eliminates possible competition between small and large projects for tax credits. "Tax credits redeemed in 2009 and 2010 will be redeemed at an amount equal to 90% of the tax credits allocated," explains Christy Davis who has spearheaded work to correct the cap, "So, if a property owner has a $100,000 project and is awarded $25,000 in tax credits, the credits will be worth $22,500 if redeemed in tax years 2009 or 2010. After that, barring any further legislation, the tax credits will be worth 100% of their value at allocation." The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee unanimously advanced SB 430 to the Senate and it is expected to hit the Senate floor next week. The Senate must act by the "turn around" dealine, Feb. 19, for all legislation to have cleared its original house. If not, the bill is dead, unless it is "blessed," receiving special consideration in certain committees.If approved, the measure will be routed to the Kansas House of Representatives. Historic preservation activists and other proponents of this bill encourage owners and supporters of historic properties, including owner-occupied historic homes, to talk with their state Senators and ask for their support of SB430. Find your Senator's contact information here. html#ixzz0fXTSApaj For tips on testifying, go to More background on SB 430" As of 3/17/2010, SB 430 passeed the House and was sent back to the Senate for concurrance. Since January, the SB 430 has been introduced in the Senate,worked by the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committe where it was ammended and passed out of the Senate. The bill was sent out of the house to the House Taxation Committee where it was ammended with some language from HB 2496. If SB 430 were a custard pie and HB 2496 were an omlet, what came out of the Committee, the merging of one dish with the other, would be quiche. Like quiche, SB 430 now has the best of both bills: it fixes the unintended consequences of last year's cap ; it maintains transferribilty of credits; and it does not include a comprehensive cap that would pit small projects agains larger ones. Continued strong support of preservationists is requested by the bill proponents. They are asking property owners to express their support of the SB 430 to their representatives. Editor's note: Kansas of Olde supports HB 430.
The "Value" of Historic Preservation This recent Colorado study provides comprehensive information regarding the job creation, economic development and historic tourism which resulted from investment in historic preservation. Often, government overlooks such aspects of their local environment when considering ways in which to grow the economy. I suggest that this Colorado study provides us with a detailed roadmap to engage in a relevant discussion with or legislators and local leaders about the opportunities which result from investing in history. Click here to see the Colorado study.
Barb Quaney
Shawnee County
Kansas
Cap on Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits Background; SB 378 Thus Far: Senator Carolyn McGinn (Wichita) introduced a bill, SB 378, in the Senate Ways and Means Committee to address the unintended consequences of last session's cap on the state rehab tax credit program. (See our Background On Issues page.) The bill was referred from the Senate Ways and Means Committee to the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee. The tax committee (see members below) has scheduled a hearing for the bill at its meeting next Thursday, January 28 at 10:30 a.m. in Statehouse Room 152-S. If you wish to present testimony, you will need to contact the office of the committee chair, 785-296-7385. Those wishing to present testimony, who would like to coordinate with others who are also planning to testify can email Christy Davis cdavis@davispreservation.com . Note: Instruction from this committee state, "Anyone wishing to appear before the Committee on any of the ... bills should
contact the Committee Assistant (785)296-7360. Please provide 25 copies of written
testimony by noon on the day preceding the hearing." For tips on testifying, go to Julia Lynn (Olathe), Vice Chairperson
Derek Schmidt (Independence), Vice Chairperson
Tom Holland (Baldwin City), Ranking Minority Member Karin Brownlee (Olathe)
Jeff Colyer (Overland Park)
Terrie Huntington (Fairway)
Bob Marshall (Fort Scott)
Chris Steineger (Kansas City)
Update (1/29/2010) Alert: Hearing CANCELLED.
The House's Taxation committee Hearing on HB 2496 set for February 4 at 9:00 in Docking Room 783 has been CANCELLED. The item has been pulled from the Committee's calendar. The Committee plans to address the bill again after Senate bill (SB 378, see above) comes out of the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee.
House Bill 2496, a second bill regarding the cap on Rehabilitation Tax Credits, would eliminate the cap in income tax credits for expenditures for certain historic structures for fiscal year 2011.
More info on the Bill:
Excerpted from the Osowatamie Graphic by District 4 state Rep. Shirley Palmer (This bill would) restore the state’s historic preservation tax credits by eliminating a cap placed on them last year. The program would allow developers to receive tax credits worth up to 25 percent of the cost of a rehabilitation or preservation project that has been deemed a certified historic structure or that is completed at a site registered as a Kansas historic place. Projects that are already exempt from federal taxes can receive a credit of up to 27 percent of the project’s cost. The state used $10 million in credits in 2008. A downturn in the economy led the Legislature to place a $3.75 million cap on the program for fiscal years 2010 and 2011. To qualify for a restoration credit, a project must cost at least $5,000 and be submitted for a credit by June 30, 2011. To claim the credit, you must fill out a Schedule K-35, which can be found on the Kansas Department of Revenue’s Web site at www.ksrevenue.org/pdf/forms/k-35.pdf. You also may call the Department of Revenue at (785) 296-4937 to request a K-35 form. -----Source:1/27/2010
http://www.graphic-online.com/201001277070/news/linn-county-news/palmer-gives-legislative-update.html To see full text of the bill http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2010/2496.pdf.
(Sept. '09) Economic Impact Study of the Kansas State Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program
by Dale Nimz , Exutive Director of Kansas Preservation Alliance
In the final hours of the 2009 Kansas Legislative Session on May 9, legislators amended the provisions of the Kansas State Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program by adding the following sentence: “In no event shall the total amount of credits allowed under this section exceed $3,750,000 for fiscal years 2010 and 2011.” With this amendment, legislators placed an unprecedented cap on the allowance of state historic rehabilitation tax credits for the next two years. Many supporters of historic preservation in Kansas believe that this new restriction is counter-productive because it discourages the financing of worthwhile rehabilitation projects.
All around Kansas, neighboring states have studied the economic benefits of historic preservation (Colorado, 2002, updated 2005, Missouri, 2002, Nebraska, 2007, and Oklahoma, 2008). To assess the jobs created, tax revenues increased, and property values increased through historic preservation projects, an economic impacts study is needed. As the state-wide advocacy organization, the Board of Directors of the Kansas Preservation Alliance (KPA) allied with the Kansas Historic Preservation Office and the Mountain-Plains office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation to commission a study that demonstrated the economic benefits of the Kansas State Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program.
The Alliance applied for a Historic Preservation Fund grant, advertised a Request for Proposals, and selected a reputable economics consultant to carry out the study. When the contract is signed, the consultant will be announced and begin collecting data for the economic analysis of the impacts of the tax credit program. Information on all completed Kansas Rehabilitation Tax Credit projects has been recorded in a database maintained by the Kansas Historic Preservation Office. Because the partners implemented this project primarily to educate legislators, they asked the consultants to carry out the work very quickly. It is critical to complete the draft study report by November 1, 2009. Then the partners will comment on the draft and the final draft study report is due on December 1 so it can be presented to legislators in committee hearings and to the public in press conferences and meetings.
The Request for Proposals called for the consultant to produce a full-color illustrated executive summary for a popular audience which outlines the study objectives, organization, and conclusions. The audience will be elected officials, policymakers, and the broader public. The consultant also will prepare a full narrative and technical report with information documenting the national economic and tax impacts of cumulative Kansas Rehabilitation Tax Credit-supported rehabilitation (Employment, Income, GDP) and the total effects, distribution of effects, and composition of Gross State Product, Effects per million dollars of initial expenditure as well as other categories of economic information. The report also will include five one-page profiles/case studies of completed projects including photographs, financial information, incentives used, and anecdotal summaries.
Obviously, this specialized economic input-output analysis yields complex statistical and technical conclusions, but concrete data is exactly what is needed to document and explain the multiplying effects of individual historic preservation projects in particular communities. According to Donovan D. Rypkema, The Economics of Historic Preservation (2nd ed., 2005), “dollar for dollar, historic preservation is one of the highest job-generating economic development options available.” For example, historic preservation creates more jobs than new construction. Moreover, historic preservation has ongoing economic impact beyond the project itself, such as increased property tax and sales tax revenue and increased property values. To achieve these economic benefits, public incentives (like the Kansas Rehabilitation Tax Credit), are often a necessary catalyst but these incentives consistently are cost-effective. We expect to find that the Kansas Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program is a worthwhile investment, not an expense, but tracking the dollars and cents will provide the objective answer. Dale Nimz: A native Kansan, Dale Nimz is an environmental and architectural historian with extensive experience as a historic preservation consultant. He has a Ph.D. in history from the University of Kansas and a Master's Degree in Historic Preservation from George Washington University. Nimz has been the Executive Director of the Kansas Preservation Alliance in March, 2009. KPA:The Kansas Preservation Alliance, Inc. (KPA) is a statewide not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the preservation of Kansas' heritage through education, advocacy, cooperation with like-minded individuals and groups, and participation in the preservation of historic structures and places.
Tax Credit Cap Guidelines Update as of June 2009
ALERT. . . HB 2169 If your property, or your neighbor’s, is near a military installation, (i.e. Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, McConnell Air Force Base) you should be aware of HB2169. Intended to restrict encroachment, if passed, HB2169 would allow the installation to dictate zoning, land use, and development policies that would effectively bypass local elected bodies. Since federal entities are not subject to the environs review process, historic properties are doubly at risk. A reasonable alternative version of the bill has been drafted by a taskforce organized by the Riley County Commission. See it at: http://www.rileycountyks.gov/documents/County%20Commission/HB2169.PDF The original bill is slated for the 2010 session. Tell your legislators to vote NO on the original HB2169 and to support the Riley County version. To get the full text of HB 2169 go to the link, below, and type in the bill number. ----------- Tax Credits Capped; Are your projects and paperwork completed already? If not, beware! "If they hold a tax credit now, we will honor those. Any project that is placed in service after June 15, the cap will apply...If they have finished the building, they need to get their paperwork in before June 15." ----------- (Tuesday, September 15, 2009 )
Rutgers Chosen to Conduct Impact Study
The Kansas Preservation Alliance (KPA) is sponsoring a study on the economic impacts of the state’s rehabilitation tax credit program. “Rehabilitation projects are vital to economic recovery because they create more jobs than new construction,” says KPA Executive Director Dale Nimz. “Studies in other states have demonstrated the importance of such programs in stimulating investment.” The statewide preservation advocacy group has contracted with Rutgers University’s Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR), an organization known nationally for its work in the field of preservation economics. Rutgers has completed similar studies for states throughout the nation, including Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri.
The study was motivated in part by the Kansas Legislature’s recent cap on the state rehabilitation tax credit. Before the program was capped, historic rehabilitation represented a rare high point in the
construction industry. When financing dried up for new construction, rehab developers were still able to obtain financing by leveraging the credits. When the tax credit program was capped, however, the
financing for planned projects was left in jeopardy and many projects were put on hold.
Nimz is hopeful that the study will back up the anecdotal evidence of the program’s positive economic impact.
The study is being funded by a Historic Preservation Fund Grant, matched by donations from preservation advocates statewide. KPA is still accepting donations. The CUPR will present its findings in December, in advance of the 2010 legislative session.
Editor's note: For more information see the following articles on the Background on Issues and Resources, Links pages. (Click buttons in blue panel of this page.) Editor's note: The Kansas Historic Preservation Office awarded a grant for approximately 60% of the cost of the project/study to KPA; KPA must raise $19,000-$20,000 to match.To contribute to this effort (deadline Sept 30, 2009) or for more information visit www.kpalliance.org. Wichita Developers Up in Arms The June 5 2009 Wichita Eagle reports that Jeff Fluhr, president of the Wichita Downtown Development Corp., Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer, and the Wichita legislative delegation are gearing up for a fight in January to attack the cap placed on Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits.They hope to have the cap repealed by February 2010. "We'll work the Legislature starting in January, working to make sure they have the best information available," Fluhr said."In the meantime, we want to look at the projects utilizing these tax credits and measure accurately the economic benefit those projects have brought on." Michael Elzufon, one of the Minnesota developers whose portfolio includes several historic downtown office buildings, takes it a step further. "It's absolutely, positively, no question stopping the rehabilitation of Kansas historical places that can be modified into alternative uses that meet the demands of today's world," he said. http://www.kansas.com/news/top/story/854399.html USA TODAY 12/25/2009 City wants Kan. cap on historic tax credits lifted
By Jeannine Koranda
WICHITA, Kan. — Historic tax credits help developers turn old, unused buildings into condos, hotels and office space, while preserving a city's unique architectural image, supporters say.
But new limits on how much in credits can be used statewide each year have put many projects -- including some in downtown Wichita -- on hold. Eliminating the cap is one of Wichita's top goals during the legislative session that starts in. . . Read the rest of this article by clicking here. ----------
Ahh, There's the Rub; Tax Credit Cap and Cut-backs.
In the last days of the last legislative session, a frenzy of confusion, concern, and emails swept throughout the historic preservation community in reaction to the State's belt tightening effects on historic rehabilitation tax credits. Most of the concern centered around large projects that use the credits as financing and investment incentives. In an attempt to share the pain, the state has cut 10% from most tax credit programs. Last-minute wording in the omnibus bill placed a "cap" on historic rehabilitation tax credits in 2010 and 2011. Here's the rub: not all tax credits are redeemed in the year they are earned (they can be carried forward to be redeemed in future years) yet the Kansas Department of Revenue, in its recommendation for cuts, used 2006 figures which were only a snapshot for that year and did not reflect actual tax credit activity. Representatives from the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office and the Kansas Department of Revenue met to hammer out some details. For calm clarification, we asked Patrick Zollner, Deputy State Preservation Officer and Director of the Cultural Resources Division. He has submitted this report to Kansas of Olde: There is not an actual "budget" for tax credits as the amount issued varies by year, and previous to this (legislative) session we had no cap. The tax cap figure was derived from the amount of state tax credits claimed on the 2006 year state tax returns (the $4.2 million figure). The idea was to save a 10% drain on the state treasury. The problem was that we actually issued over $10 million in tax credits SFY 2006 (note the tax year and fiscal years are different) and over $8 million in SFY 2008. In our meetings with KDOR, their staff determined that on average not more than 60% of the tax credits issued were claimed that year (the credits can be carried forward ten years), which is why we are allowing up to $6.25 million in tax credits to be issued during SFY 2010 and SFY 2011 and still be able to meet the cap of $3.75 million. Patrick Zollner
Director, Cultural Resources Division
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
Kansas State Historical Society Kansas of Olde will stay tuned.
http://www.kslegislature.org/legsrv-bills/index.do
HB 2083, elimination of historic environs review The state preservation statute (KSA-75-2715-75-2726) requires the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) be given the opportunity to comment on proposed projects affecting historic properties or districts. http://www.kshs.org/resource/histpresstatutes.htm This is the essence of the "historic environs review" process. On Feb 12, 2009, there was a hearing on HB2083 in the Kansas House of Representative’s Committee on Local Government. The Kansas Association of Realtors introduced it in hopes of eliminating the environs review process. The bill has since been “blessed” meaning that it is exempt from deadlines that most bills must meet. Since many of us didn't know the bill even existed until AFTER the hearing, we thought some background info would be helpful. To read the minutes of the hearing go to: http://www.kslegislature.org/committeeminutes/09-10/house/hLocalGov/hLocGov20090212.pdf THE OTHER SIDE: Some of the proponents of the bill, and in support of eliminating or reducing the environs review process, are:
Kansas Building Industry Association. 2008! http://www.kansasbuilders.org/Government/ : Environs Review KBIA supports legislation to reduce the requirements for the environs review for historically designated properties and/or to provide additional options for local governing bodies with regard to those properties.
Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS®
http://kcrarnews.frogpond.com/DispAboutus.cfm :
Support legislation to protect private property rights by eliminating the historic environs review requirement. This process causes considerable delays in an improvement plan and typically causes an increase in legal and architectural fees occurred in the development process.
3/29/2009: At our request, Kate Emmett-Sweetser has contributed the followng information for Kansas of Olde. The Environs Review In Kansas, the permit review process refers to a system, created by state law, which assures that no project requiring a construction or demolition permit will be done to historic properties listed in the register of historic places without the proper concern for the impact it might have on the property, especially its historic and architectural integrity. In addition, this permit review process applies to properties located within a 500-ft perimeter (1,000-ft in rural areas) - called the "environs" - of any historic property listed in the register. This means that any time a building or demolition permit is requested locally for a project involving property near a listed historic property, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) must first review the permit application. Maintaining the environs is important because it preserves the historic & architectural integrity of whole blocks and it helps protect the value of restored historic properties. The permit review process is fair because by law it must be done in a timely manner (30 days maximum, though the average turn-around is a week or less) and because permit applicants, in the rare cases where the permit is denied, have the right to an appeal at the local level. Right now, there is a proposed bill in the Kansas House (HB 2083) which would eliminate the permit review process for properties within the 500-ft (or 1,000-ft for rural) environs. The bill can be found on the Kansas Legislature’s website, www.kslegislature.org/bills/2010/2083.pdf. Even though support of the bill seems to be limited to only one member of he House (who is backed by big real estate developers), the bill has been "blessed" or "exempt," meaning it is not subject to normal deadlines and can be brought to a vote at any time on its own, as an amendment to another bill, or through some other method. This week, begining March 29, will be crucial in the defeat of HB2083 because it is this week that last-minute maneuvers can be used to pass such "blessed" bills. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY! Your neighborhood deserves the same protection as your house! -------Kate Emmett-Sweetser is an advocate for historic preservation and co-chair of the Historic District Committee, part of the Downtown Division of the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. She and her husband live in a Victorian townhouse built in 1884.
Clay Center Carnegie Library Controversial Environs Review Case in Point. Kansas of Olde, in covering HB2083, looked at the environs review from the outside. The bill galvanized our commitment to protecting the environs review process which can influence changes made to any property within the halo of an historic one. Now Kansas of Olde looks at an environs review from the inside. The Carnegie Library in Clay Center is a case in point. Several of our subscribers were concerned about the Library and an article in the Clay Center dispatch describing the controversy over it.
One subscriber wrote: I hope this does not become a trend!
Another wrote:
The facts in the story aren't right. HTF grants are up to $90,000 and the SHPO can't require (more)
American Clean Energy and Security Act New national legislation encourages energy upgrades for historic and older homes with financial incentives that have not been offered before The Advocacy Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation is calling for citizens to contact their legislators before Friday, June 26.. The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the American Clean Energy and Security Act this Friday. The Center is asking help to ensure its passage "because it includes -- for the first time ever -- incentives for building owners to make their homes and properties more energy efficient while respecting their historic character." The Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance Program will provide $2.5 billion to communities throughout the country to help owners of older and historic homes renovate and weatherize their homes. The Center states that the New legislation encourages energy upgrades for historic and older homes with financial incentives that have NOT been offered before. They are asking supporters to take action by asking their representative to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act. | |
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