The Blue Planet Foundation is sponsoring a rally today at the Capitol (12:30-1 p.m.) in support of HB1520.

Here’s how they describe the bill:

We can choose a new path forward. Switching to clean energy is our obvious choice, and energy efficiency is the first step. Installing energy-efficient solutions in homes—from solar power to energy-saving appliances—can lower energy consumption substantially. And lower consumption translates into lower bills.

Unfortunately, the upfront cost often puts these choices out of reach. But that’s about to change. Blue Planet Foundation champions a policy called on-bill financing (House Bill 1520), which makes energy efficiency accessible to everyone. It eliminates the upfront cost of efficiency upgrades and enables residents to pay off the purchases directly on their electric bill by applying the energy savings over time.

What’s the catch? There is no catch. That is the function of energy efficiency: It saves energy, which saves money.

Blue Planet says similar on-bill financing programs have been implemented in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, California, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey and Kansas.

I took a quick look at testimony, and it appears Senate amendments to the bill made it less objectionable to Hawaiian Electric, which had questioned whether it would actually be cost-effective.

This issue isn’t as sexy as some alternative energy legislation, and harder to get people involved in. Thanks to Blue Planet for pushing it forward.