Washington Examiner

DOE now accepting applications for $8.5B home energy efficiency rebates.

The Biden Administration Launches ⁢$8.5 Billion Home Energy Efficiency⁤ Rebate Program

The Biden administration has taken ‍a significant step towards promoting energy​ efficiency with ⁢the launch of its highly anticipated $8.5 billion home energy efficiency rebate program. This initiative aims to assist consumers in upgrading ​their outdated fossil fuel devices ‌to newer, more energy-efficient models.

The program, which was established under the Inflation Reduction⁣ Act almost a‌ year ago, requires each state or territory ‍to apply ​and adhere to the Department of‌ Energy’s ‍(DOE)‍ guidelines for distributing ⁤the funds ⁣to residents.

Upon approval of the application, the DOE ‍will allocate a lump​ sum to applicants, ranging from $50 million for⁤ smaller areas to $690 million for larger states. These funds will ​enable consumers to insulate their ‍homes, install new appliances, and cover the​ higher upfront costs associated with energy-efficient⁣ devices like heat pumps,⁤ heat pump water heaters, and other Energy Star appliances, according to ‌a statement from the DOE.

Notably, low-income households ‍in certain⁢ states​ may be eligible for rebates of up​ to $14,000 if they ‌make ⁤the switch to more efficient devices.

“We expect these‌ rebates to become available‍ to consumers in select states by the end of this year, ⁤with a rolling basis implementation throughout ⁢2024,” stated U.S.‍ Deputy ⁤Energy ⁤Secretary David Turk during a press briefing on Thursday. However, he emphasized that the timeline is contingent on the prompt submission of applications and fulfillment of necessary requirements⁤ by states and territories.

The DOE estimates that these ⁣new rebate programs will⁢ save consumers up to $1 billion⁣ in energy costs annually and will create around 50,000 jobs in sectors such ‍as⁢ manufacturing and construction.

This announcement‍ aligns with the Biden administration’s ‌commitment to⁤ assisting consumers in upgrading their appliances to more⁤ energy-efficient options, including heat pumps, ⁢clothes‌ dryers,​ and installation costs, which can add thousands of ‍dollars to ​the overall expense.

Under the⁤ Inflation Reduction Act, $8.5 billion has been allocated to establish the Home ⁢Efficiency Rebates program,‌ providing $4.3 billion​ in grants to state energy offices to ⁢reduce upfront costs for efficiency upgrades. Additionally, $4.27 billion has been allocated to create the ‍Home Electrification⁢ and Appliance Rebate program, aimed at lowering the costs ‍of efficient electric technologies.⁤ (An additional $225 million has been ⁢allocated to tribes under a similar program.)

While it is possible that some Republican-led states may decline the funds, ‌no ⁣public ‍commitments⁣ to do so⁤ have been made thus far.

When asked about this possibility, Deputy Energy Secretary ​Turk expressed hope that “all our partners across ⁢the‌ country” would recognize the ⁢value of the program for their respective states and apply.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON ⁢EXAMINER



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