Orthodox Union Spearheaded Creation of Measure to Provide Energy Efficiency Grants for America’s Synagogues, Day Schools, Other Houses of Worship and Nonprofits
*President Biden Due to Sign Bill into Law Nov. 15*
Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox Union), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, welcomed the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the groundbreaking Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework legislation.
The bill, previously passed by the Senate in August by a 69-30 vote, is scheduled to be signed by President Biden Nov. 15.
The Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act (section 40542) creates a $50 million program to reduce energy consumption and increase energy efficiency for houses of worship, religious day schools and other nonprofits nationwide. Administered by the Department of Energy, it will provide individual grants of up to $200,000 for nonprofits to upgrade existing infrastructure such as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems as well as windows and doors.
The bipartisan provision, sponsored by U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) was spearheaded by the Orthodox Union Advocacy Center, the nonpartisan public policy arm of the Orthodox Union and a coalition of other nonprofit groups.
Said Nathan Diament, Orthodox Union Executive Director for Public Policy:
“We are very grateful to bipartisan leaders and the many rank and file lawmakers who worked to ensure this key provision ultimately was included in this legislative package. The creation of the Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act will help our foundational institutions become more environmentally sound and enable them to expand their offerings through energy cost savings.”
Said Orthodox Union President Mark (Moishe) Bane:
“We seek to be good stewards of our environment and assist our synagogues and schools in devoting more resources to serving people than paying utility bills; the energy efficiency program now approved by both the House and the Senate will provide a springboard for our institutions to make the upgrades they have so long and so badly needed.”