OEI Grant Programming
At this time, OEI's Grant Programs are operational, and OEI staff are processing grant agreements and reimbursement requests related to existing awards under the Energy Innovation Grant Program, the Rural Energy Startup Program, and the Grid Resilience Program. Wisconsin is continuing to monitor developments at the federal level and will share any updates as they are provided by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebates
-
The HOMES program provides rebates for upgrades to homes reducing their energy use, based on their overall energy savings through IRA Registered Contractors. Interested customers should visit the Focus on Energy webpage linked below to learn more.
- The HEAR program provides rebates to those with low or moderate incomes (<150% Area Median Income) to buy products that can reduce the energy used in their homes.
- The HEAR program has two phases:
- Phase One: Available Now!
- IRA Registered Contractors can give discounts for certain products that require installation.
- Available products include:
- ENERGY STAR-certified Electric heat pumps for cooling and heating
- ENERGY STAR-certified heat pump water heaters
- Electric wiring and panel upgrades
- ENERGY STAR Insulation, ENERGY STAR ventilation, air sealing
- Phase Two will launch later in 2025:
- In this phase, approved customers can buy approved products in participating stores or through a contractor.
- Other products that will become available in this phase:
- ENERGY STAR-certified electric heat pump clothes dryer
- ENERGY STAR-certified electric stoves, cooktops, and ranges
- A HOMES multifamily pilot is now available! A pilot for HEAR rebates for multifamily buildings will be available soon.
To learn more about the HOMES and HEAR programs, and what is available to customers now, visit the links below.
Focus on Energy
- Focus on Energy is increasing Residential Program Rebates.
- Focus has increased incentive amounts for the following:
- HVAC equipment, including $100 for a natural gas furnace.
- High-efficiency heat pumps.
- Focus on Energy has streamlined the Marketplace website resulting in a one-stop shopping experience for energy-efficient products and free energy-saving packs. Customers can continue to enjoy free shipping with no minimum purchase required.
- Plus, the online marketplace and product guides are now available in Spanish, making energy savings even more accessible.
- To get started on your energy efficiency journey, visit the links below.
U.S. Department of Energy Tribal Technical Assistance Offering
- The Office of Indian Energy, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Commercial Law Development Program, is offering technical assistance to all federally recognized Tribes to enhance the legal environment for energy sector commerce.
- Technical support focuses on these four areas of work:
- Legal technical assistance to advance high-value energy projects
- Legal technical assistance to support evaluating energy project proposals or deals
- Modernizing or developing Tribal energy legal, regulatory, and contractual frameworks to enable a sustainable competitive business environment and to align risks
- Capacity building to increase the ability of Tribal governments to conceptualize and implement complex energy projects and effectively participate in power markets.
- Additional technical assistance offered by the Office of Indian Energy includes:
- Energy Planning
- Energy Efficiency Assessments
- Resource Assessments
- Energy Project Planning
- Building Codes and Utility Formation.
- To learn more about Office of Indian Energy’s technical assistance offerings, visit the link below.
Learning Opportunities
Slipstream Educational Web Series and Videos
- Slipstream has recently developed and completed two sets of free educational and training videos.
- One set of videos covers the drivers and benefits of smart building technologies, key building energy systems, the latest sensor technologies and Internet of Things devices, and focus on topics related to smart building controls (i.e., energy management information systems, smart building control platforms, cybersecurity, grid-interactive-efficient buildings (GEBs), smart building control methods, and occupant-centric control.
- The second set of videos are part of their series related to A2L refrigerants and refrigerant leak detection. They are posted on YouTube and provide Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Technicians and other energy contractors access to informational videos covering the installation requirements, the new threading and press style fittings, as well as the newly required controls and the leak detection systems are that required in new HVAC equipment with A2L refrigerant.
- To access the trainings and free videos, visit the links below.
Building Code Study Request for Participants
- Slipstream is conducting a comprehensive field study examining new construction practices in the state of Wisconsin.
- Slipstream is currently recruiting new single-family, multi-family, and office and retail buildings to join their study. By joining the study, participants will provide valuable information that will be used to understand how new construction practices align with building energy codes and to identify future training opportunities.
- To learn more about the study, visit the link below.
Solar + Solar Storage Training Course
- Inclusiv and the Center for Impact Finance at the University of New Hampshire have launched a new free training course for those interested in resilient solar + solar storage training course.
- The course is designed for building owners and community leaders seeking to ensure a resilient, reliable, and renewable supply of electricity for community-serving facilities, such as schools, health centers, food banks, and houses of worship. The course is free and open to all on a rolling basis, with a Spanish-language version coming soon.
- Additionally, the Clean Energy Group produced a series of introductory videos, introducing the audience to key solar and energy storage concepts and guiding viewers on how to size a solar and battery storage system.
- To learn more about and register for the course or to watch the free videos, visit the links below.
Energy News and Research
Empowering Consumers: Navigating the Switch to Clean Energy Technologies
- This webinar from the Wisconsin Energy Institute is for those seeking to decarbonize their lifestyles, making decisions about what to prioritize both from a personal-finance and an environmental perspective.
- The webinar recording includes a discussion from personal finance and life-cycle assessment experts, who explore how to approach saving and spending decisions that can help households plan for a more sustainable energy footprint.
- To watch a recording of the webinar, visit the link below.
Michigan PSC Approves Network Geothermal System Feasibility Study
- The Michigan Public Service Commission approved of a Consumers Energy plan to conduct a study on the potential implementation of a network geothermal system in areas where the company provides both electricity and natural gas.
- Geothermal uses a ground-source heat pump to transfer liquid via a looped pipe underground, transferring heat to either cool or warm a building.
- To read the full article, visit the link below.
45L and 25C Energy Efficiency Tax Credits
- The Section 45L tax credit provides home builders with an incentive to build energy-efficient homes and apartments. While Section 25C tax credits help homeowners make home improvements to save energy and reduce their energy bills.
- These two tax credits were created in 2005 and expanded under the Inflation Reduction Act.
- To learn more about these tax credits and the benefits they have brought, visit the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) links below.
Resources: Energy Maps and Tools
Industrial Electrification in the United States
- ACEEE has posted a policy brief and interactive map showing where industrial heat pumps (IHPs) and other electric industrial heat technologies are being deployed across the country.
- Such improvements can help manufacturers improve efficiency and reduce costs.
- To read more about industrial electrification and to view the map, visit the link below.
|
