Free webinars will be offered on Feb. 1 and 2

Washington, D.C. -- The American Library Association (ALA) is offering two webinars for libraries about new federal resources for sustainable library buildings.

On Feb. 1 at 1 pm Eastern, ALA will present "Energy Retrofit Grants for Nonprofit Libraries,"<https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UKoWVyRkRGa-g4CnpqUxZA> with speaker Daniel Bresette of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 created a new Energy Efficiency Materials Pilot Program<https://www.energy.gov/bil/energy-efficiency-materials-pilot-program-nonprofits>, which will provide $50 million in grants to nonprofit organizations to upgrade building materials to improve energy efficiency, lower utility costs, and reduce carbon emissions. Libraries that are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and own and operate their building will be eligible to apply.

The Energy Department is expected to open applications later this year. The webinar will describe the pilot program and share ideas about how eligible libraries can prepare to apply. On Feb. 2 at 1 pm Eastern, ALA will present "Clean Energy Tax Credits,"<https://ala-events.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LFgSbSIPStukR7nZxUDtEg> with speakers Sarah Frey and Chris Lover of PFM Financial Advisors LLC. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022<https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/inflation-reduction-act-guidebook/> provided tax incentives to boost the development and deployment of clean energy. Several of these incentives are now available to tax-exempt entities, including state, local, and Tribal governments and nonprofit organizations. Libraries may be able to benefit from incentives for energy-efficient buildings, clean vehicles (such as bookmobiles), electric vehicle charging, and renewable energy production (such as from rooftop solar). The webinar will discuss the new incentives and how libraries may be able to take advantage of them.

The webinars are organized by ALA's Public Policy and Advocacy office. Free registration is required. Just click on the title of the webinar you want to join.

https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2023/01/ala-offers-webinars-new-federal-resources-sustainable-library-buildings

Deborah A. Clark, MLIS
Library Management Specialist
Maine State Library
(207)233-2193
E-mail: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>

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