Green/Sustainable Housing

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash) last week proposed an amendment to the pending tax extenders bill (H.R. 4213) that would extend Section 1603 renewable energy tax credit cash grant program through the end of 2012.

Alaska Governor Sean Parnell signed two bills last week that establish a statewide energy policy (S.B. 220) to stimulate the state’s economy by attracting renewable energy investment.

The U.S. Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have announced that they will join forces to award up to $75 million in funding ““ $35 million in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) II Planning Grants and $40 million in Sustainable Community Challenge Grants for localized planning activities that ultimately lead to projects that integrate transportation, housing and economic development.

NH&RA is pleased to offer a CD-ROM containing digital audio recordings of select panel sessions from the Spring Forum.

Last week, the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association welcomed over 120 industry professionals to Washington, DC for its 2010 Spring Affordable Housing Policy Forum. The highly praised program explored the critical nexus between today’s changing public policy environment and affordable housing development, as well as combined NH&RA’s traditional transaction-oriented sessions with valuable social networking opportunities.

Last week, the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association welcomed over 120 industry professionals to Washington, DC for its 2010 Spring Affordable Housing Policy Forum. The highly praised program explored the critical nexus between today’s changing public policy environment and affordable housing development, as well as combined NH&RA’s traditional transaction-oriented sessions with valuable social networking opportunities.

The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund has released updated guidance for the 2010 New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program, including application questions-and-answers.

On January 25, 2010, the Department of Energy (DOE) published a regulation intended to reduce the review and verification burden related to income eligibility and certain operational requirements under the DOE Weatherization for certain properties identified by HUD.

The U.S. Green Building Council recently published a new report that shows that the Obama Administration has the executive authority to use over 30 existing federal programs worth $72 billion to enhance energy efficiency in the nation’s multifamily housing and commercial buildings, without the need for new legislation.

NH&RA provided input and participated in a recent national policy initiative that has identified specific federal programs in which certain existing rules can be modified to enhance the program’s ability to promote sustainability and energy efficiency in multifamily housing and commercial buildings. Multiple organizations participated in the “existing authorities” initiative, which culminated in a lengthy report, to be released on April 29, outlining a series of recommendations across many different federal programs.

The House Financial Services Committee passed energy efficiency legislation based on proposals developed by NH&RA and its Council for Energy Friendly Affordable Housing.

NH&RA and its Council for Energy Friendly Affordable Housing (CEFAH) have progressed further in their efforts to try to increase the availability and use of federal Weatherization Assistance Program funds in multifamily housing properties.