Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst ******************* Department of Housing and Urban Development Releases New Guidelines for Community Solar Participants The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued new guidance to HUD Multifamily Housing field staff, owners, and management agents on the treatment of on-bill virtual net energy metering credits commonly resulting from a resident’s participation in …
ICAST Registers New Carbon Credits
ICAST Registers New Carbon Credits ICAST is excited to announce that we have posted a new carbon credit project on the GHG CleanProject Registry website that represents the reduction of over 7,000 tons of carbon emissions. The New Mexico (NM) Energy Conservation Measures Project illustrates the environmental benefits of delivering energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions in multifamily affordable housing …
September 2022 Policy Blog
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst ******************* Inflation Reduction Act Signed by President On August 17, the White House released a fact sheet regarding the Inflation Reduction Act and its priorities and most significant wins. The bill, which invests $369 billion in energy security and climate change alone, puts the United States on a path to reducing 31-44% of the …
ICAST Receives Award to Pilot a Multifamily-Focused Redesign of the Weatherization Assistance Program
ICAST Receives Award to Pilot a Multifamily-Focused Redesign of the Weatherization Assistance Program ICAST is excited to announce that we were recently awarded approximately $1.9 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to launch “WAP 2.0″— an innovative redesign of the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The WAP, overseen by the DOE, helps reduce low-income (LI) households’ energy costs by …
Weatherizing Multifamily Affordable Housing with BIL Funding
Weatherizing Multifamily Affordable Housing with BIL Funding By Ravi Malhotra / National Housing & Rehabilitation Association Issue: August 2022 The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps low-income households access energy efficiency, renewable energy and health and safety upgrades for their homes. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) that was passed last year provides $3.5 billion for WAP, increasing …
August 2022 Policy Blog
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst ******************* Senator Manchin Continues to Stall Climate Action in Congress On July 28, Senate Democrats unveiled a surprise spending plan which contains $369 B for climate and energy programs over the next ten years. The plan has the blessing of Senator Joe Manchin, who previously stalled or disapproved of other climate/reconciliation bills. This comes …
July 2022 Policy Blog
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst ******************* White House Promotes Innovation Efforts in Renewables On June 28, the White House announced that its current $7.5b investment to create a nationwide electric vehicle charging network will receive an additional $700m in private investment, which will increase the government’s “capacity to manufacture more than 250,000 new electric vehicle chargers each year, …
Decarbonization and Electrification
Decarbonization and Electrification By Pamela Martineau / Issue: June 2022 NATIONAL HOUSING & REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION Efforts in Affordable Housing Still in Early Stages Affordable housing communities across the nation have much to gain from decarbonization and electrification, yet unfamiliarity with new technologies, the high cost of retrofitting buildings, and complicated access to funding sources and incentives have slowed the conversion. These issues are among …
June 2022 Policy Blog
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst ******************* White House Announcements The White House has been busy and released multiple fact sheets and press releases in relation to the housing and energy industries. Modernize Building Codes, Improve Climate Resilience, and Reduce Energy Costs In this June 1 announcement, the White House highlighted that modernized energy codes can save households an …
ICAST’s Work with Environmental Justice Communities Advances Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
ICAST’s Work with Environmental Justice Communities Advances Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion As recently announced, ICAST was awarded $50,000 in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to serve multifamily affordable housing (MFAH) property owners in environmental justice (EJ) communities in New Mexico. Maintaining healthy, affordable housing is a clear EJ goal: it promotes healthy, productive, and sustainable environments for …