TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) will introduce new financing programs for energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy installations in multifamily housing on July 27 at the Trenton Marriott, 1 West Lafayette Street. Funding for the programs is being made available through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“Not only will these programs create jobs, they will help lower utility costs for the people who own and live in multifamily buildings across New Jersey,” said Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner and HMFA Chairman Joseph Doria, who will speak at the seminar. “I encourage multifamily property developers, owners and managers to attend the event to learn how to take advantage of these energy-saving programs.”

The seminar will include detailed information sessions about the HMFA’s Multifamily Energy Efficiency Improvement, Solar Funding, and Weatherization Assistance programs. The three programs will help the state achieve Governor Corzine’s goal of a 20 percent reduction in energy consumption and a 30 percent increase in renewable energy production by 2020.

“The HMFA is determined to assist multifamily properties around the state that are most in need of energy efficiency support,” said HMFA Executive Director Marge Della Vecchia. “The HMFA understands it can be expensive to weatherize multifamily buildings or install solar panels, which is why we’re offering these programs.”

Applicants of the HMFA programs must participate in the New Jersey Pay for Performance Program, which is offered through the NJ Board of Public Utilities’ (BPU) Office of Clean Energy. The Pay for Performance Program, which helps large building owners reduce their energy consumption, will be presented at the seminar, as will the DCA’s Weatherization Assistance Program and PSE&G’s multifamily subsidy and loan program. The event will also feature a Pay for Performance fair where attendees can speak with professionals about how to take a whole-building approach to saving energy and earn incentives linked to those savings.

“New Jersey has leveraged our federal economic recovery funding for energy projects with the state’s existing clean energy programs to provide enhanced opportunities for program participants to save energy and save money,” said BPU President Jeanne M. Fox, who will attend the seminar. “Participants will also be reducing their carbon footprint, helping improve air quality and contributing to a safe, reliable and secure energy future for our state.”

For more information about the seminar, registration and the HMFA’s multifamily programs, log on to http://www.state.nj.us/dca/hmfa/gho/ and click on upcoming events. You can visit the BPU’s website at http://www.nj.gov/bpu/ for information on the Office of Clean Energy and Pay for Performance Program.