Governor Paterson asked the legislature to consider establishing a municipal sustainable energy loan program to assist property owners in installing renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements.                                    Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the US Department of Energy has established a new $450 million grant program for states called the “Retrofit Ramp-Up”, which is designed to promote nationwide energy upgrades that could save $100 million annually in utility bills for households and businesses. It would provide funding for large-scale retrofit models to make whole neighborhoods, more energy efficient.                                      Governor Paterson's Municipal Sustainable Energy Loan Program Legislation authorizes towns and cities to set up loan programs for energy efficiency and retrofits on residential and commercial buildings, making it easier for property owners to pay for upgrades by allowing them to pay back the cost over 15 or 20 years. Passage of this legislation would make it easier for New York State to access the federal energy efficiency funding.