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Governor’s Energy Office launches rebate program Monday

Tonya Bina
Sky-Hi News
Grand County, CO Colorado

GRAND COUNTY – There’s a chance to receive a direct mailing of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money.

The catch? Buying a new energy-efficient appliance, making your home more energy efficient, or embarking on a renewable energy project, like installing solar electric photovoltaics.

A rebate program through the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office is launching on April 19 when a “Recharge Colorado” website goes online to inform customers and walk them through the rebate reservation process.



After reserving a rebate, customers then have 30 to 45 days to make the purchase and submit proof. The rebate check is then sent to customers in 4-6 weeks.

As much as $18 million of ARRA money funneled through the Governor’s Energy Office is dedicated to about 75,000 available rebates for any Coloradan willing to trade in an old appliance for a new energy-saving one, or ready to make their home energy efficient, or willing to install some renewable energy technology.



“This is really exciting. Anybody can do it,” said Liz McIntyre, volunteer Community Energy Coordinator for Grand County. “It’s a great opportunity for people sitting on the fence about buying new appliances.”

And if a person’s appliance is as old as 10 years, money spent on an Energy Star appliances will pay itself back in savings on energy bills, she said.

Through the Recharge Colorado rebates program, a person could receive up to $100 for buying a new Energy Star refrigerator, $500 for a gas-condensing furnace, $300 for a hot water heater and $400 for a new gas boiler.

More rebates are found in insulation and air sealing, duct sealing, whole house energy audits, solar electric photovoltaics systems, solar domestic hot water systems, and small wind generators.

By example, up to $4,500 could be redeemed in a new solar electric photovoltaic system, and up to $7,500 from a new wind turbine. For these rebates, a contractor must fill out the reservation.

As many as eight new solar photovoltaic systems are being installed in Grand County through the rebate program, McIntyre said.

And, more rebates can be obtained through Mountain Parks Electric without a reservation: As much as $80 on a new refrigerator (if the old one is recycled); $80 on a new freezer (if the old one is recycled) ; $40 on a clothes washer and $30 on a new dishwasher.

The Recharge Colorado website was created to disseminate rebate information in a user-friendly manner, saving Colorado citizens from having to wade through the flood of information on the Governor’s Energy Office website. The Recharge website is designed to direct consumers to other rebates available in their communities for energy-efficient purchases, according to McIntyre.

The chance to make a reservation for a rebate will only be offered until the money runs out, which could be in one or two days, McIntyre said, so it’s important to get online and sign up as soon as the website launches.

The Recharge Colorado website, rechargecolorado.com, and call center, 1-800-462-0184, will start being operational at 8 a.m. on Monday, April 19.

– Tonya Bina can be reached at 970-887-3334 ext. 19603 or e-mail tbina@skyhidailynews.com.


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