Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Manager ========== States Launch Home Energy Rebates Program The Department of Energy (DOE) announced that Arizona, New Mexico, Maine, and Rhode Island have launched their Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) programs. New Mexico: NM’s HEAR will provide low-income single-family homeowners and low- and middle-income renters up to $14,000 in rebates to upgrade equipment and appliances. …
September 2024 Policy Blog
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Manager ========== Xcel Energy’s Clean Heat Plan for Colorado Moving Forward Colorado’s largest investor-owned utility, Xcel Energy, should soon receive a written order from the state’s Public Utilities Commission to finalize and implement its “2024-2028 Clean Heat Plan.” The plan directs more than $440 million over the next three years towards electrification and energy efficiency, …
August 2024 Policy Blog
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Manager ========== EPA Announces Climate Pollution Reduction Grants Program Awards The Biden-Harris administration recently announced the award of $4.3 billion in implementation grants under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)-funded Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program. The 25 selected applications will fund projects in 30 states including one Tribe. Eight of the selected applications were submitted …
Building Decarb Update: Some Highlights at the Federal Level
In June, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced its National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building. It was finalized after receiving feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders. Part 1 of the Definition (Operational Emissions from Energy Use) sets criteria for a building with zero emissions from energy used for building operations. It applies to …
July 2024 Policy Blog
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst ========== Study Shows States How to Maximize Federal Funding The American Council for an Energy-Efficient, the AnnDyl Policy Group, and the Building Performance Association have released a new paper identifying strategies that policymakers, efficiency program administrators, and other decision-makers can use to support home energy efficiency upgrades by braiding and stacking new federal funds …
June 2024 Policy Blog
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst ========== White House Announces Over $12M to Support Local Energy-Saving Projects The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $12.1 million to three states and 14 local governments for the next round of formula grants through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program. These projects, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), come …
ICAST Experts Weigh In: Redesigning the Federal Weatherization Assistance Program
By Ryan Kristoff | Vice President, Grant Programs Mr. Kristoff grows the organization by securing the funding and partnerships necessary to build new programs, expand to new geographies, and add services to its one-stop shop. In April, through Tennessee’s new Multifamily Weatherization Assistance Program, ICAST completed its first multifamily weatherization project, covering 80 units at the Summercrest Apartments in North Knoxville. The …
Announcements: Program Updates
ICAST Exceeding Goals for Healthy Homes Grant. In 2022, the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development awarded ICAST nearly $2 million for a Healthy Homes (HH) Production Grant in New Mexico. We have been diligently working on retrofitting low-income multifamily housing units, with the aim of significantly improving health conditions and energy efficiency for the residents. As part of …
Money on the Move: Accessing Incentives for Your Green Projects
By Ravi Malhotra Originally published in Utah Rental Housing Journal More funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) are working their way toward communities. For example, Utah’s Office of Energy Development is currently preparing its applications for the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s funded Home Energy Rebate programs. The Environmental Protection Agency is considering applications under …
Netherlands climate change: Court orders bigger cuts in emissions
In November, Los Angeles-based clean technology leaders announced its Zero Emissions 2028 Roadmap 2.0. At the time, Mayor Eric Garcetti called for a 25% reduction in air pollution by 2028. Today the Financial Times is reporting that Los Angeles may now force Uber and Lyft to use electric cars. The highest court in the Netherlands has upheld a ruling requiring …