The Biden-Harris administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced nearly $9 billion will be available to states and Tribes from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act for consumer home energy rebate programs, enabling communities to make homes more energy efficient, upgrade to electric appliances, and cut energy costs. DOE estimates that the historic home energy efficiency and electrification consumer rebates authorized will save households up to $1 billion annually. Inflation Reduction Act programs will include the installation of clean energy equipment like heat pumps that will lower energy costs for American families, decrease dependence on fossil fuels, and help the U.S. meet the President’s goal of weatherizing two million homes and our economy-wide climate goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions at least in half by the end of the decade.
“As energy prices remain high, this Administration is working to cut costs for working families and businesses through historic investments for consumer rebates for more efficient home improvements and energy-efficient appliances nationwide,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “President Biden’s agenda means states will have greater resources to meet their consumers’ needs and more rapidly achieve home electrification on the path to a net-zero emissions economy.”
From November through January, DOE will hold a series of listening sessions to engage a wide array of stakeholders, including direct engagement with states and Tribes, labor, industry, and others, on these consumer rebate programs. Following the listening sessions, DOE will issue a Request for Information for public input in early 2023. DOE anticipates that the funding to states and Tribes will be available by Spring 2023, and the rebates will be available to the public later in the year.
The Inflation Reduction Act includes multiple tax incentives and investments to bolster consumer home energy rebate programs which are critical for improving local air quality and public health, and cutting U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. With nearly $9 billion to be made available through states and Tribes for consumer home energy rebate programs, focused on low-income consumers, communities will be able to electrify home appliances and perform energy efficient retrofits.