Obama Comes to Georgia Today

In Savannah, Obama expected to focus on energy rebates, jobs, not politics.
President expected to land at 11:30 a.m. for visit to tech college, businesses.


by Bob Keefe
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
March 2, 2010

Homeowners could receive instant rebates up to $3,000 for making their houses more energy efficient under a program President Barack Obama planned to reveal Tuesday in Savannah.

Obama has been pushing his "Homestar" energy improvement program since last year. After touring Savannah Technical College at noon and speaking to students learning how to install insulation, solar panels and high-efficiency heating and air conditioning systems, he was expected to provide new specifics on the planned program.

Among them:
*Homeowners could be eligible for $1,000 to $1,500 in "Silver Star" rebates for relatively small upgrades, such as installing insulation or new water heaters or replacing leaky windows or doors.
*Homeowners could get up to $3,000 in "Gold Star" rebates if they make more comprehensive energy upgrades that reduce the energy usage of their home by at least 20 percent.
*Contractors, home improvement companies and retailers would give the rebates to homeowners at the point of sale, and would be reimbursed later by the government.

Obama wants the program included in a jobs package being drafted by Congress. Homeowners already can receive tax credits for making some of the improvements under the federal economic recovery act. Some utilities already offer federal-funded rebates for new appliances and other equipment.

White House officials said the newest home energy efficiency program could cost about $6 billion, benefit 2 million to 3 million households and potentially create thousands of jobs. However, administration officials have provided few details on where the money would come from or how their jobs estimates were reached.

Not surprisingly, companies such as Atlanta-based Home Depot Inc., are highly supportive of the president's plans. Home Depot CEO Frank Blake has met personally with Obama on several occasions to discuss the program and other economic stimulus-related home improvement programs.

"Rebates to consumers to make their homes more energy efficient could potentially be a win across the board for homeowners, manufacturers, retailers and contractors, especially if the rebates are delivered with speed and simplicity," Home Depot spokesman Ron DeFeo said in a statement. "Stimulating this type of demand could ultimately be great for our pro contractors, our suppliers and our business."

Despite a string of tumultuous days in Georgia politics, Obama is expected to spend most of his anticipated four hours in Savannah Tuesday talking jobs, energy and the economy, but not politics.

The president's visit comes just days after two of Georgia's Republican congressmen, U.S. Rep. John Linder of Gwinnett County and U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal of Gainesville, announced their impending departures. . Linder said Saturday he won't seek re-election in November and Deal announced Monday that he'll resign on March 8 to focus on his race for governor.

Savannah Democratic U.S. Rep. John Barrow, meanwhile, is facing a potentially tough re-election race in November and is considered a key vote for any health reform legislation.

After landing at Hunter Army Airfield at 11.30 a.m., Obama plans to travel to Savannah Technical College. He is expected to make brief remarks at the school, visit some Savannah-area businesses and depart for Washington at 3:40 p.m.

Along the way, he can expect to be greeted by protesters. Leaders of the fiscally conservative Savannah Tea Party group, which opposes taxes and most of Obama's plans, have put out a call to supporters to turn out along Obama's planned visit in protest. On its Web site, the group has a lengthy list of suggested protest sign suggestions, such as "Stop Obamacare," "I Want My Country Back" and "High Taxes+Big Government=Slavery."

Nuclear energy opponents, meanwhile, also are expected to turn out to protest Obama's recent decision to provide federal loan guarantees to Atlanta-based Southern Company to built two new nuclear reactors in Burke. The reactors would be the nation's first in nearly 30 years.


http://www.ajc.com/news/georgia-politics-elections/in-savannah-obama-expected-341408.html

© 2010 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution