House approves motor rebate program

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce approved an amendment on May 20 creating a NEMA Premium motor rebate program. During committee work on the House of Representative's climate change legislation, Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mike Ross (D-AR) offered an amendment to incentivize the adoption of NEMA Premium motors.

The amendment, nearly identical to one the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee adopted in April, incentivizes the purchase of NEMA Premium motors by creating a federal rebate program. The amendment approves $350 million to provide a $25 per horsepower rebate for NEMA Premium motors, as well as a $5 per horsepower rebate for disposal of inefficient, non-NEMA Premium motors.