|
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Home Energy Rebate programs has hit a major milestone: DOE has now awarded over $1 billion to states to deliver rebate programs for energy-efficient home upgrades to their eligible residents.
The Home Energy Rebates programs are funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which invested $8.8 billion to help Americans save on home energy improvements. The nearly $400 billion in total funding from this transformational legislation marks the nation’s largest investment to date in clean energy.
“We are excited to reach this milestone and provide states with funding that helps reduce the burden of high energy bills while promoting healthier homes especially in communities yet to benefit from access to cleaner, more affordable energy,” says Keishaa Austin, Acting Principal Deputy Director of DOE’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs. “We are pleased to work with states to bring these innovative programs to families and communities across the nation.”
“Rebates programs will have impacts beyond lowering energy bills. SCEP estimates that about 50,000 jobs will result from the home improvements that these programs will make possible. That means more jobs for HVAC installers, plumbers, electricians and many other occupations,” said Dr. Joseph Nyangon, Deputy Director for Partnerships in DOE’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs.
Currently, 10 states have received full funding from DOE to launch rebate programs. Twenty-two states, the District of Columbia, and one Tribe have applied for full funding. To date, states and territories have applied for $3.1 billion in funding, including early administrative funding to get a jumpstart on building out programs.
New York became the first state to launch a Home Energy Rebate program in May 2024. On August 2nd, Wisconsin launched its first Home Efficiency (HOMES) portion of the rebate program – enabling households at all income levels, with an emphasis on lower-income households to save on energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, air sealing, and heat pumps that reduce whole-home energy consumption.
Visit New York’s EmPower+ and Wisconsin’s IRA Home Energy Rebates | Focus on Energy website to learn more about how residents can take advantage of the programs.
DOE continues to receive and approve Home Energy Rebate applications from states, territories and Tribes to launch their programs. Several states are planning to launch programs in the next couple of months, which will vastly expand the availability of rebates for eligible homeowners and renters seeking to make energy-efficient upgrades.
To learn where your state is in the process, visit our interactive map.
|
