During a news conference at the Jotul manufacturing facility in Gorham today, Senator Susan Collins announced that she has introduced bipartisan legislation that would provide a tax incentive to consumers who voluntarily replace their old wood-burning stove with a new, cleaner-burning model. The Clean Stove Act of 2008 would provide a one-time $500 tax credit during a three-year period to purchasers of wood and wood pellet stoves, which generally retail between $1500 -$3,000. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 7.5 million older stoves are currently in use in the United States as a primary or secondary source of home heating.
“During the height of the oil crisis in the 1970’s, many families here in Maine and throughout the country turned to wood as an affordable way to heat their homes,” said Senator Collins. “Unfortunately, many wood stoves purchased decades ago are outdated, inefficient, and are contributing to both indoor and outdoor air pollution. New wood and wood pellet stoves can cut emissions by more than 70 percent, they use less firewood, and they produce less creosote that builds up in chimneys. This legislation would help consumers purchase and install new, clean-burning stoves and is just one way we can address the energy crisis in our country.”
The Clean Stove Act of 2008 is co-sponsored by Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Wayne Allard (R-Colorado) and Jon Tester (D-Montana), and has been referred to the Senate Finance Committee.