Oct. 13--Congressman Earl Pomeroy said he's excited to introduce new legislation that would extend tax incentives for thermal energy storage, which he said could decrease the demand on electricity and save homeowners money.

Pomeroy, along with officials from Steffes Corporation, met Monday in Dickinson to discuss legislation which would provide the incentives for the purchase of qualified thermal energy storage systems, heating units Steffes manufactures.

Steffes has developed and has been manufacturing heaters since 1987. The heaters, which hold high-density ceramic bricks, are fueled with heat during off-peak hours and store that heat until peak-periods of energy use when it is expelled.

"This week we'll be presenting legislation, bi-partisan supported, in the ways and means committee in the House of Representatives, which would basically have the effect of extending the tax credit presently in place to support renewable energy industries, such as wind, geothermal and several others that qualify," Pomeroy said.

The legislation will be sponsored in partnership with Pomeroy by Congressmen Mike Thompson, D-Calif., and Wally Herger, R-Calif. Pomeroy said the California Congressmen are interested in TES and it's use for cooling.

Pomeroy said TES technologies can provide an efficient and effective means of curtailing peak-period demand for electricity, thereby increasing the security of the electric grid.

Paul Steffes, chief executive officer for Steffes Corporation, said units can be built to heat a whole home, just one room, or large enough for a business.

"This legislation would give a 30-percent tax credit to consumers that would be buying our products," Steffes said. "Our products are really a long-life, low-cost thermal battery for renewable energy and other underutilized resources, namely off-peak energy."

Pomeroy said on top of the 30 percent tax credit, a TES, such as those built by Steffes, could save 40 to 70 percent on their annual heating bills, or between $500 and $2,000 a year, depending on home size.

Cost for heaters such as Steffes' varies depending on size, but company officials said installation for a home unit costs about $4,000 more than a standard home forced-air system.

"There are some extraordinary inefficiencies in the present electrical system," Pomeroy said. "I have been very interested in a technology that has been developed at Steffes and worked on over the years. I am absolutely convinced this is a technology whose time has come.

"In the end, a good part of what we want to achieve is a new avenue of job creation in our economy: green jobs," Pomeroy said.

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