Representatives Hughes, Wimmer Announce "Bright Idea for Utah": $30 Per Family Tax Cut Coupon for Energy Efficient Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Calling energy independence one of the most important issues facing America, State Representatives Greg Hughes and Carl Wimmer announced they would lead what they called “an innovative way to cut taxes and energy usage and improve air quality.”
Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) May 25, 2007 -- Calling energy independence one of the most important issues facing America, State Representatives Greg Hughes and Carl Wimmer announced they would lead what they called “an innovative way to cut taxes and energy usage and improve air quality.”
Called a “Bright Idea for Utah,” Hughes and Wimmer introduced a bill for the 2008 Utah legislative session to provide every Utah family with a $30 tax cut coupon to purchase cutting-edge, energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs (equal to approximately to 10 bulbs) which can save $36-$59 on energy bills over the life of a bulb and use up to 50% to 75% less energy. Families can redeem the coupon at participating retailers.
“It’s time we commit ourselves to American energy independence,” said Wimmer. “With Utah expected to enjoy a $400 million budget surplus, I support this innovative way to cut taxes, reduce energy usage and improve air quality by using only six percent of that surplus. Bright Idea for Utah is a way to truly be pro-green – conserving energy and preserving our planet – while also saving taxpayers’ money.”
The $30 per family tax cut coupon for fluorescent light bulbs would save the average Utah family an additional $255 through energy savings. While the tax cut is estimated to cost the state $21 million, the economic activity from saving each Utah family $285 – ($30 tax cut and $255 in energy savings) – is estimated to produce statewide savings of $200 million and significantly increased tax revenues.
Representative Hughes said, “Switching just 10 fluorescent light bulbs per Utah household represents the energy savings equivalent to 65 million gallons of gasoline and a reduction of greenhouse gasses equal to taking 443,000 cars off Utah roads for a year. This win-win idea will reduce our dependence upon foreign sources for oil and make our air cleaner.”
Hughes and Wimmer announced their new plan on the 46th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s speech before a joint session of Congress that called for sending a man to the moon.
“Our generation’s “moon-shots” are the twin challenges of energy independence and environmental sustainability. But while President Kennedy called America’s government to accomplish this goal, we can only reach energy independence and become true stewards of the land by marshalling the ingenuity of individual Americans,” said Hughes. “Today, Washington is immersed in partisan squabbling and Americans want action, not Congressional standards intended to be met in 10 years. We can start with what we use every day: A light bulb.”
Wimmer added, “Last year, American families paid an average of $1,000 more for gasoline then they did in 2001, hurting working families and taking a bite out of their household budgets. Besides curtailing our reliance on foreign oil and reducing greenhouse gases, this proposal can put needed money back into the pocket of Utah’s working moms and dads.”
Hughes and Wimmer’s call was joined by members of state legislatures in Colorado and Oregon with several other states announcing in coming weeks. Currently, 41 states are enjoying total budget surpluses in excess of $31 billion. If every state used only 11% of current state surpluses ($3.3 billion) and sent every household in America a $30 tax cut coupon for 10 fluorescent light bulbs, Americans could save nearly $40 billion in energy costs, the energy equivalent of taking every car, bus and truck off the road for 26 days and removing 633 billion pounds of pollutants – including carbon dioxide – from the air.
Utah Savings Figures
Utah Households - 701,281
Fluorescent Bulbs – 10 75-watt per HH - 7,012,810
Tax Refund Coupon - $30 per HH - $21,038,430
Kilowatt Hour Cost / cents per hour - 7.56
Total Energy Cost Savings - $178,931,845
Kilowatt Hour Savings - 2,366,823,346
Gasoline Equivalent Savings / gallons - 65,201,745
Carbon Dioxide Reduction / lbs - 4,887,726,952
CO/2 Equivalent Cars Off-the-Road / 1 yr - 443,429
Per Household Cost Savings - $285.15
Energy savings + $30 light bulb
tax cut coupon
Sources: US Census Bureau, EnvironmentalDefense.org, 36.3 KWH=1gallon gasoline, 11,000 lbs co/2 per car year
Hughes represents District 51, was first elected in November 2002 and is a small business owner working in real estate development and property management. Hughes is Chairman of the Conservative Caucus.
Wimmer represents District 52, was first elected in November 2006 and is law enforcement officer. He distinguished himself in his first legislative session keeping his most noted campaign promise by passing “Jessica’s Law,” increasing incarceration times of convicted child-sex offenders. Wimmer was named “Freshman Legislator of the Year” by the Salt Lake County Lincoln Club.
Contact:
Rep. Carl Wimmer 801-608-4763
Rep. Greg Hughes 801-541-6127
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“Bright Idea for Utah”; Coupons for Energy Efficient Fluorescent Light Bulbs
from EarthTalk on May 30, 2007
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State Representatives Greg Hughes and Carl Wimmer Called energy independence one of the most important issues facing
America and announced they would lead what they called “an innovative way to cut taxes and energy usage and improve air quality.” H...
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Trackback URL: http://www.prweb.com/pingpr.php/VGhpci1NYWduLUNvdXAtU2luZy1UaGlyLVplcm8=
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