Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) is leading a group of lawmakers in urging the U.S. Department of Energy to release additional funding from the Weatherization Assistance (WAP) and State Energy (SEP) programs to help low-income families afford energy costs this winter.
Collins was joined by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Chris Coons (D-DE) in writing a letter to the Department of Energy on Dec. 16, asking it to release additional funds before Christmas, Sen. Collins's office announced.
The senators cited the regular increase in heating bills during the winter, especially during winter storms, cold snaps, and other severe weather. They asserted that low-income families will need the financial support with home heating costs, especially given the already high price of energy.
"Weatherization is a critically important tool to partner with Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to help families avoid financial hardship caused by increased energy costs," the senators wrote. "The State Energy Program provides crucial funding and technical assistance to states that allow for the implementation of clean energy projects, improve the energy efficiency of public buildings and hospitals and foster energy innovation in the private sector."
The letter pointed out that the bipartisan infrastructure law that was signed by President Joe Biden in November provides the WAP $3.5 billion and the State Energy Program $500 million, which will be crucial in creating jobs.
"As the most recent U.S. Energy and Employment Report shows, the energy sector was hit hard by the economic impacts of the pandemic with more than 839,000 jobs lost in this sector in 2020," the senators wrote. "Prior to the pandemic, we saw an energy sector growing at a rate faster than the economy as a whole. This was especially true for energy efficiency, which employs more than 2 million Americans, often through small businesses. With the investments from the bipartisan infrastructure law, jobs in energy efficiency and other parts of the energy sector are primed for growth."
The senators' letter comes the day after the Department of Energy announced $18.6 million in funding to bolster existing WAP efforts. The DOE highlighted that the program has been in existence since 1976 and has helped over seven million households, which have received $283 in annual energy savings.
"Weatherization retrofits and home energy upgrades – like heat pumps, LED lighting, insulation and sealing up leaks — cuts monthly energy bills for families by up to 30%, and makes our air healthier," Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said. "Thanks to the investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, DOE will be able to help even more communities, cut more air pollution, and generate good-paying local jobs."
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has announced that the cost for winter heating is expected to rise in all categories this year. Compared to last winter, the EIA said that natural gas heating will rise 30%, electricity 6%, propane 54%, and heating oil 43%.
