From: Danville Register and Bee

Perriello supports rural energy savings bill

 Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th District, cosponsored a bipartisan energy bill Wednesday that caters to rural areas, according to a news release.

 The bill, H.R. 4785, would establish a “rural energy savings program” to create jobs, lower electric bills for families and businesses and save energy through $4.9 billion in loan authority from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service. The loans would create electric cooperatives to offer low-interest loans to families and small businesses for investments in energy-saving retrofit and structural improvements.

 “Rural households are getting hit the hardest with rising energy costs,” Perriello said in a statement. “These efficiency programs will not only create jobs locally, but make our rural homes more sustainable and cost efficient in the long run.”