Local News
Rebates, tax credits heat up geothermal option
Local utility encourages heating, AC replacement on older homes
EDMOND — Local rebates and federal tax credits will add up to significant savings for Edmond residents who switch to a geothermal heating and air conditioning system after the first of the year. Residents who live in homes more than 20 years old should definitely look at the opportunity, recommended Bob Corff, energy services manager for Edmond Electric.
Edmond Electric offers Edmond customers, both residential and commercial, an $800 per ton rebate on a new geothermal system. This is a shared rebate between the Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority and the City of Edmond.
The Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority, through a federal stimulus grant, will offer a $1,000 per ton rebate after the first of the year. This program, called the Oklahoma Comfort Program, has $3 million to cover rebates for residents of up to 36 member cities, of which Edmond is the largest. The program has been approved for state funding, but OMPA does not have a contract from the state. Until he has a contract, said Roger Farrer, OMPA energy services manager, he is not certain of the start date or whether new construction will be eligible for the rebate. OMPA hopes the start date will be Jan. 1. Although the program is scheduled to continue for three years, the $3 million may not last that long. To be eligible for the rebate, he said, geothermal systems must meet minimum qualifying criteria. They must be listed with the AHRI Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute.
The federal government’s residential energy efficient property credit equals 30 percent of what a homeowner spends on qualifying property, including most geothermal heat pumps. Generally, labor costs are included when calculating this credit. Also, no cap exists on the amount of credit available for a geothermal system.
On top of savings from rebates and the tax credit, Corff said, heating and air make up about 60 percent of total energy use. In a 20-year-old home, geothermal will be twice as efficient as the older equipment. As a result, residents should save about one-third of their energy bill by switching to geothermal.
And, in a 20-year-old home, he said, the heating and air system has reached or is past its rated life.
Bob Willis, owner of Sunrise Alternative Energy at 500 S. Coltrane Road, said, “If your heating and air units are over 12 years old, you should seriously look at replacing them. The older units have a SEER rating of seven to eight, really inefficient compared to today.” With a geothermal heating and air system, he said, the SEER rating will be in the 22-23 range.
SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The higher the number, the more efficient the system.
“The tax credit is raising the awareness and raising the interest level in all our products and services significantly,” Willis said.
Andrea Fair, national program coordinator for Guaranteed Watt Savers, said the organization can help with an assessment, including a projection of utility costs saved, that can be used to get an energy improvement mortgage. Edmond Electric has a program for financing energy efficiency projects, as well.
EDMOND ELECTRIC customers planning a switch to geothermal in the near future should contact Edmond Electric at 216-7660. More information on the federal tax credit is available at www.irs.gov.
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Deer Creek students break WWF goal
Deer Creek High School students outdid themselves again recently as they shattered their fundraising goal for the 10th annual Wonderful Week of Fundraising. The school raised over $54,367 to provide assistance to refugees in the Oklahoma City area and clean water for the people of Haiti.
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Lawmaker: No fraud, but ME’s office mismanaged
An auditor’s review of the State Medical Examiner’s Office produced no findings of fraud or wrongdoing, but there was mismanagement, one lawmaker said.
Last week, lawmakers received the results of a state auditor’s review of the agency, and it did not find examples of corruption, fraud or wrongdoing, said state Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore. It did reveal incompetence and mismanagement, but it appears the responsible parties are no longer with the agency, Terrill said. -
Police nab suspected golf cart thief
An Edmond man faces a grand larceny complaint after he allegedly stole a golf cart and interrupted a lesson at Oak Tree National, police said.
Saturday afternoon police were dispatched to the 5800 block of N. Kelly Avenue in reference to a larceny in progress, according to a report filed by Edmond Police Officer Jason Roach. -
Ex-CASA worker to serve 20-year sentence
A former worker for an Oklahoma association formed to help abused and neglected children was ordered to prison Monday after pleading guilty to his part in embezzling about $500,000.
Tom Bates, assistant attorney general, said today’s development puts an end to the sentencing phase, and Attorney General Drew Edmondson wanted to make it clear that this type of criminal activity will not be tolerated in Oklahoma. -
3-16 Communtity: your news
Calvey to speak at Kiwanis meeting
Kevin Calvey, local businessman, Army National Guard captain and candidate for Oklahoma’s U. S. Congressional 5th District, will be the guest speaker at the Edmond Kiwanis Club meeting on Wednesday. -
3-16 Scorecard: Legislative Update
Senate Bill 1996
Summary: This bill requires privatization of the state-backed CompSource workers’ compensation insurance provider.
Vote: Passed Senate 25-21
Sen. Todd Lamb: Aye
Sen. Clark Jolley: Aye -
Ex-CASA worker to serve 20-year sentence
A former worker for an Oklahoma association formed to help abused and neglected children was ordered to prison Monday after pleading guilty to his part in embezzling about $500,000.
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Swine Week breaks record
Wild hugging and cheering rippled through the Memorial High School student body Friday afternoon when the Swine Week announcement was made that they are true record-breakers.
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State reviews ME’s office finances
The State Auditor and Inspector’s Office this week told House leadership that lack of planning and expecting annual increases in state funding helped land the State Medical Examiner’s Office in a precarious financial position, according to information obtained by The Edmond Sun.
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Lawmakers write governor, protest parole
Two state lawmakers are urging Gov. Brad Henry to deny parole for an inmate convicted in the murder of an Edmond man, calling him a continuing threat to Oklahomans.
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