Supported by the Investing in America Agenda, Nearly Half of States Have Submitted Applications to Start Delivering Home Energy Savings and Increasing Local Workforce Opportunities
MILWAUKEE, WISC. — As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today that Wisconsin has launched its first Home Energy Rebates program, supported by the Inflation Reduction Act. Wisconsin is the first state in the nation to launch the Home Efficiency (HOMES) portion of the rebate program – enabling households at all income levels, with an emphasis on lower-income households, to save on energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, air sealing, and heat pumps that reduce whole-home energy consumption.
Wisconsin’s launch is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s nationwide initiative to provide $8.8 billion in Federal funding for states, territories, and Tribes to lower energy costs and increase efficiency in American homes by making it cheaper to install cost-saving measures such as heat pumps, electrical panels, and insulation. These energy-saving measures will save American households up to $1 billion annually in energy costs and support an estimated 50,000 U.S. jobs in residential construction, manufacturing, and other sectors. These investments also advance the President’s Justice40 Initiative.
“The Biden-Harris administration is helping families save energy and save money, and we’re not slowing down,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Wisconsin is leading the pack of states building up their local workforce and keeping money in the pockets of their residents.”
“Home energy rebates for clean and energy-efficient appliances and upgrades are good for the planet because they help cut pollution. But more importantly, they are good for Wisconsin families because they will save money by lowering energy bills,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy.
“President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership is helping turbocharge efforts across the country to expand access to cost-saving clean energy upgrades,” said White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi.
“The HOMES and forthcoming HEAR programs will go a long way in lowering costs for important energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades for households across the nation,” said Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.
“Throughout this entire process, we have been glad for the tremendous partnership between PSC and Focus on Energy,” Gov. Evers continued.
“I am proud to join Governor Evers and Secretary Granholm to celebrate the launch of the Home Efficiency Rebate Program in Wisconsin,” said Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Chairperson Summer Strand.
Many Americans spend a large portion of their monthly income on heating, cooling, and powering their homes — with some low-income families spending upwards of 30% of their income on energy bills. By participating in these programs individual households could save up to $14,000 for home upgrades.
Wisconsin is launching its HOMES program leveraging existing infrastructure from its Focus on Energy program. Residents will complete a home assessment provided by a licensed auditor determining upgrade needs based on household income:
- Up to $10,000 for those earning less than 80% area median income (AMI).
- Up to $4,000 for those earning between 80% - 150% AMI.
- Up to $3,000 for those earning at or above 150% AMI.
Multifamily properties are also eligible; rental units with low-income tenants may receive up to $10K depending on estimated reductions.
The Inflation Reduction Act provided nearly $150 million for Wisconsin's programs which expect later launches this year offering further incentives through HEAR (Home Electrification Appliance Rebates).
For more information visit Focus on Energy's website or DOE's online resources detailing each state's progress implementing similar initiatives aimed at reducing household utility expenses while promoting environmental sustainability alongside economic development within local communities nationwide under federal guidance aiming broad socio-economic impacts benefiting disadvantaged groups among others toward equitable green transitions envisioned ongoingly per current administrative priorities underlying these collaborative public policy endeavors orchestrated via bipartisan governance frameworks operationalizing legislative mandates reflective contemporary societal exigencies vis-à-vis emergent climatic contingencies necessitating adaptive infrastructural responses therein accordingly undertaken conjointly thereby facilitating holistic developmental paradigms realized thereof sustainably over time horizonally projected forward thusly instituted systematically ensuring inclusive growth 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