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The Energy and Commerce Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved an amendment that would authorize US $20 million over 5y ears for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set up and operate a federal wood stove changeout program.
The amendment was offered to H.R. 2545, "The American Clean Energy and Security Act," by U.S. Representatives Welch (D-VT), Inslee (D-WA) and Harman (D-CA), all members of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
"For consumers across the country, this bill would mean that cleaner burning stoves could help warm their homes, help reduce spending and clean the air in their neighborhoods," said Jack Goldman, president of the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue (HPBA), which has been promoting wood stove changeouts.
HPBA said that wood stove changeouts have been regional programs to replace older, inefficient wood stoves with cleaner-burning EPA-certified models. A pilot-program in Libby, MT, U.S., which replaced or repaired 1130 old stoves, reportedly showed that the changeout reduced pollution by 70% per stove, on average.
HPBA said that the success of the Libby pilot program and its air quality improvements earned the attention of congressional leaders who are now working to put significant funding behind a nationwide wood stove changeout program.
The bill will now be considered by other committees of jurisdiction before moving to the floor of the House of Representatives for final consideration.
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