WASHINGTON – On Thursday Congressman Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) voted in favor of the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010, which passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 246-161.

This bill would offer rebates to households that renovate their homes to be more energy efficient. In addition to benefiting home owners, this bill will create local jobs in construction, retail, and manufacturing.

“Every home can be energy efficient,” said Congressman Thompson. “By providing these rebates for families, we can create new jobs, save people money on their electricity bills, and move the United States towards energy independence.”

The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act offers rebates up to $3,000 for specific energy-saving investments, including insulation, duct sealing, windows and doors, air sealing and water heaters.

Homeowners also can be eligible for a rebate up to $8,000 if they wish to conduct a comprehensive energy audit and implement measures to reduce energy use.

Congressman Thompson has prioritized the promotion of alternate energy and energy efficiency in Congress. He introduced H.R. 4085 which offers a significant tax credit to solar manufacturers to promote green energy and stimulate job creation here in the United States.

He successfully included provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that allow state and local governments to more easily finance the purchase of solar systems and access $2.4 billion in new energy conservation bonds to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Additionally, the Thompson provisions provide grants to incentivize businesses to invest in renewable technology today, rather than waiting until the economy improves.

Thompson has also introduced the STORAGE Act, which would provide a tax credit to individuals and businesses when they purchase energy storage systems.

Energy storage systems allow consumers to keep excess energy generated by devices like solar panels or wind turbines when energy is in low demand and then use it during periods of peak demand, reducing consumers’ electricity bills and greatly enhancing the reliability of alternative energy sources.

The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act now heads to the Senate, where it must be passed before being sent to the President to be signed into law.

LOWER LAKE – A fundraiser to help elect district attorney candidate Don Anderson will take place on Sunday, May 16.

The event will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Tuscan Village on Main Street in Lower Lake.

Spend an afternoon talking with the candidate and enjoying appetizers and wine.

Tickets, which cost $10 per person, will be available at the door.

The event is sponsored by the committee to elect Don A. Anderson, District Attorney 2010, www.donandersonfordistrictattorney.com.

COBB – A small but growing number of local residents concerned about rising long-term unemployment, the economy and the resulting foreclosure crisis will begin meeting weekly at Mountain High Coffee & Books in Cobb.

The next meeting begins at noon Wednesday, May 12.

The intention is to draw locals out of their homes and shed light on a situation many may feel or believe they are alone in when in fact they are not.

All are invited to attend, whether a previous or current homeowner with questions or perhaps some helpful insight, banker, Realtor, local official. It's sure to be a lively debate held in an open forum.

For more details contact Robert Somerton at 707-245-7541.

Mountain High Coffee & Books is located at 16295 Highway 175 in Cobb.

SACRAMENTO – Six bills by authored Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-North Coast) moved forward this week.

Four were approved by the full Assembly and are now headed to the Senate. Two were approved by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and are headed to the floor for a full vote of the Assembly.

The full Assembly approved the following bills authored by Assemblymember Chesbro:

• AB 2134, a bill supported by owners of small microbreweries, would make it legal for beer manufacturers and importers to conduct and advertise to their customers “beer maker dinners,” featuring craft beers paired with food at local restaurants. The bill would grant the beer industry the same status as the wine industry, which has had good success marketing new products at winemaker dinners. AB 2134 is sponsored by the California Small Brewers Association.

• AB 2615, the “Ocean Fisheries Improvement Act,” would advise the Ocean Protection Council of the Legislature’s intent regarding funding priorities that focus on sustainable fishing practices. AB 2615 is sponsored by the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations

• AB 2675 would provide for additional training for those who care for people with disabilities. It would provide those who operate Immediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled (ICFs/DD) with eight additional hours of training on the business side of running a facility. Currently, IFCs/DD licensees are required to complete eight hours of training on California’s developmental disabilities system and program and regulatory requirements. Feedback from new operators and oversight agencies finds that new licensees often struggle to manage the financial aspects of their businesses. Adding a business orientation program would double the required training to 16 hours for licensees. AB 2675 is sponsored by the California Association of Health Facilities.

• AB 2351 would help California’s State forests by allowing Cal Fire to establish recreational user fees for overnight campgrounds, including the Jackson State Forest in Mendocino County. Fees collected by Cal Fire would benefit California’s State forests. AB 2351 is sponsored by Cal Fire and supported by the Sierra Club of California, the California Licensed Foresters Association and the California Native Plant Society.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee approved the following Chesbro bills:

• AB 2664 would allow the State Lands Commission to charge administrative penalties for structures built on state lands without the proper permits or that are out of compliance with those permits. Many of these structures actually impede the public’s access to state land. Examples include building fences in to lakes and even across state parks. This law is needed because the State Lands Commission often must enter into costly litigation to combat persons or entities building structures on state land.

• AB 2430 would require that an organization or agency whose sole purpose is to provide services to the blind or visually impaired, which receives grants or contracts from the Department of Rehabilitation, have at least 20 percent blind or visually impaired individuals as board members in order to best meet the needs of blind and visually impaired Californians.

Visit Chesbro's Web site at http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a01/.

NICE – Come enjoy a Mexican-style dinner then dance it off on Friday, May 7, at the Sons of Italy Club in Nice.

The group will serve a Cinco de Mayo celebration dinner of enchiladas, rice, beans, chips and salsa plus dessert, at the club hall, 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

The bar is open for socializing at 5 p.m. then dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.

Enjoy dancing to music of John Zimmerman, right after the meal. All tickets $15 at the door. Everyone is welcome.

For information about this event or renting the hall for your own, call 707-263-1606.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Sulphur Bank Drive to one-tenth of a mile west of Catholic Church Road on Friday, May 7. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 29

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Hilderbrand Drive to the junction of Route 29/175 in Middletown beginning Monday, May 10. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– AT&T of Sacramento has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for an aerial crossing near Western Mile Road beginning Monday, May 10. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., weekdays. Intermittent full road closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road to the junction of Route 20/29 through Friday, May 7. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in

effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Bob Whitney of Willits has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to install a driveway near Happy Lane beginning Friday, May 7. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

– Pavement repairs at Blue Slide Gulch, just south of Westport, will continue. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute

delays. Contractor – Mercer-Fraser of Eureka.

Highway 101

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from La Franchi Road to 0.3 mile north of Hewlett Sturtevant Road on Tuesday, May 11. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– A drainage repair project from the Rosetti Creek Bridge to 0.2 mile north of the El Roble Overcrossing will begin Monday, May 10. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays. Contractor – Quimu Contracting Inc. of Dixon.

– PG&E of Eureka has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility maintenance and tree trimming from 0.5 mile south of the Jitney Gulch Bridge to 0.4 mile south of Confusion Hill beginning Monday, May 10. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 222

– Replacement of the Russian River Bridge will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays during work hours and five-minute delays at other times. Contractor – CC Myers of Rancho Cordova.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).