Tax-free holiday lets shoppers go green for less green

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October 9, 2009

By CHARLES OWENS The Bluefield Daily Telegraph Fri Oct 09, 2009, 10:31 PM EDT

BLUEFIELD, Va. — It’s looking like a good weekend for tax-free shopping in the two Virginias.

Virginia’s third annual tax holiday on energy-efficient products continues today through Monday. And West Virginia’s Energy Star Sales Tax Holiday, which began on Sept. 1, also continues this weekend and all the way through Nov. 31.

In Virginia, residents can purchase items tax-free this weekend that are certified as being energy efficient with the Energy Star and WaterSense designations. The tax-free items include everything from heat pumps, dishwashers, washing machines, insulation and other items priced at $2,500 or less, the Associated Press reported Friday.

In West Virginia, the ongoing sales tax holiday covers the noncommercial purchase of Energy Star certified products worth up to $5,000, including major appliances, office equipment, lights, home electronics and other items.

The tax-free weekend is particularly helpful for citizens looking to buy big-ticket items, Bluefield, Va., Town Manager Mike Watson said.

“I would say a lot of people will shop at Lowe’s and Wal-Mart,” Watson said. “It’s a nice savings if you are looking at a big-ticket item.”

Watson said if more people get out and shop, both the local and state economy will benefit.

“I guess my personal opinion on it is with the rise in the cost of energy this gives citizens an opportunity to come out and get a break on the items that might make it a little more efficient in the long run,” Watson said.

In Virginia, the state also is offering what is being called a first-come, first-serve rebate program aimed at encouraging residential and commercial customers to buy energy-saving products. The Virginia Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate program will use $15 million in federal stimulus funds to give back 20 percent of qualifying purchases, or up to $2,000 for homeowners and up to $4,000 for commercial buyers, the AP report said.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com

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