Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst
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Biden-Harris Administration Announces State and Tribe Allocations for Home Energy Rebate Program
The U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE) provided an update on the allocation of funds from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for consumer home energy rebate programs that will help households pursue energy efficiency and electrification for their homes. Allocations have been determined for States; however, allocations to specific tribal nations are not yet available. DOE will hold a series of listening sessions between November and January to engage stakeholders, including Tribes, labor, and industry, on the programs. Following the sessions, DOE will issue a Request for Information for public input in early 2023. DOE stated that they predict funding for states and Tribes will be available by Spring 2023, and rebates will be available to the public later in the year.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Lower Energy Costs for Families
The White House released a fact sheet on steps the Administration is taking to reduce households’ energy costs and support good-paying jobs and manufacturing. Highlights include:
- The Department of Health and Human Services announced $4.5 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program to help lower heating costs.
- The DOE released a Notice of Intent and Request for Information on how to enable more heat pump manufacturing in America.
U.S. Dept. of Energy Releases Weatherization Assistance Program Memorandum Regarding Eligibility Criteria
The DOE issued a Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Memorandum containing the list of buildings identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and published by the DOE that meet income eligibility requirements without needing further verification. Categorical income eligibility is intended to streamline program intake by accepting other agency-specified programs’ income qualifications. According to the memorandum, extending WAP categorical eligibility to clients who meet USDA’s income eligibility requirements will help advance the Administration’s goal of delivering a clean energy economy that benefits all Americans.
New York Voters Approved $4.2 Billion for Climate Infrastructure
The Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act is a ballot initiative in New York which was recently passed with over 67% of the vote. It authorizes funds for critical environmental restoration projects throughout the state in four categories: Water Quality & Resilient Infrastructure, Open Space Conservation & Recreation, Restoration & Flood Risk Reduction, and Climate Change Mitigation. The Bond Act aims to safeguard clean drinking water, support nearly 100,000 jobs, update infrastructure, conserve wildlife habitats, farms, forests, and wetlands, and improve public health. It stipulates that disadvantaged communities shall receive no less than 35% of the benefits of the funds.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Marks Anniversary of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
November 15 marked the first anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). Since then, the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been working with federal agencies to connect investments in transportation, climate resilience, broadband, and more, with HUD’s investments in affordable, quality housing. HUD released a fact sheet containing highlights of their work, which include:
- HUD announced the availability of $5M in technical assistance funds to help jurisdictions leverage infrastructure investments from BIL to increase the housing supply.
- HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes is partnering with the DOE’s WAP (which receives BIL funding) to develop further HUD’s Healthy Homes and Weatherization Cooperation Demonstration grant program. This program helps mitigate health and safety hazards in WAP-eligible homes.