WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) toured the JELD-WEN, Inc. window factory and met with workers today. The Mount Vernon Company benefitted from provisions in the Recovery Act that encouraged the purchase of energy-efficient windows and doors like those made at the factory.

“The hard-working men and women here are a reminder that manufacturing remains a critical part of Ohio’s economy. This factory is also a reminder that our clean energy economy isn’t just about wind turbines and solar panels,” Brown said. “With the downturn in the home building industry, the tax credits for replacing old windows and doors that were included in the Economic Recovery package were a true lifeline for JELD-WEN. Increasing demand for energy-efficient products manufactured in Ohio put people back to work and help consumers lower their energy costs.”

“As a maker of ENERGY STAR qualified windows, JELD-WEN benefits from tax policies that encourage homeowners to replace energy-draining windows with highly efficient models. Our winter slowdown usually starts in November, but we stayed busy through the third week of December,” said Brad Hunter, General Manager JELD-WEN Window Division-Mt Vernon.

Brown outlined the importance of clean energy manufacturing to Ohio’s ongoing economic recovery and the important role energy-efficiency tax credits will have for manufacturers. In April, Brown cosponsored the bipartisan Home Star Energy Retrofits Program.

JELD-WEN’s Mount Vernon plant employs more than 250 workers and manufactures Energy Star-qualified vinyl windows and patio doors.  The recently-passed bipartisan tax compromise also extended the existing tax credit for qualifying energy efficient residential (Tax Code Section 25C). Starting on Jan. 1, 2011 and running through Dec. 31, 2011, homeowner’s can claim 10 percent of the costs – capped at $500 – for the installation of qualified energy efficient improvements.

According to JELD-WEND, the 25C provision in the Recovery Act boosted business and the Mount Vernon plant.  Before the Recovery Act’s passage, Mt. Vernon had almost no orders for a particular type of highly energy efficient window.  After the Recovery Act incentivized the purchase of this window, more than 20 percent of the work at Mount Vernon was dedicated to this particular product.

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