NRECA and seven other organizations, including the Alliance to Save Energy and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, jointly sent a letter to Representatives Lloyd Doggett and Bart Gordon expressing their support and thanks for introducing legislation promoting the use of geothermal heat pumps.

H.R. 2990 would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make geothermal heat pump systems eligible for the energy credit and residential energy efficient property credit.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, geothermal heat pump systems are consistently the most energy-efficient and environmentally clean space-conditioning system.

Many electric co-ops have been aggressively promoting geothermal heat pump systems to their member-consumers, offering rebates and other financial incentives.

Delta-Montrose Electric Association in Colorado has had significant success with its “Co-Z Energy Plan,” an award-winning financing program offering 7.5 percent interest, no money down and thirty year term for geothermal heat systems. Targeted to members in existing homes, the can enable members to save on their energy bill in first month after installation. The co-op has also promoted this technology with its non-residential customers; three golf courses, three banks, “city hall,” and the county’s Health and Human Services building are also using the new systems.

Thanks to DMEA’s aggressive marketing, over four hundred members of have installed the energy efficient systems, significantly reducing the co-op’s peak load.

Midwest Electric in Ohio is another co-op actively promoting geothermal systems. Using a software program to calculate projected heating and cooling costs for various systems, the co-op shows consumers the advantage of geothermal. In addition, the co-op offers a reduced electric rate for consumers with geothermal heat pumps and has offered rebates.

According to Matt Berry from Midwest Electric, a tax incentive would help put these systems financially within reach of middle and lower income consumers.

NRECA will be urging Congress to support this change to the tax code.