The guidance is “a fundamental deviation” from the intent of the programs, said Sam Friesen, managing director of buildings at Fresh Energy, a Minnesota-based environmental advocacy group. He said that these changes will create difficulties for consumers who were making plans under the old rules and now they need to follow the new rules.
Robin Yochum, buildings program director for the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, a regional nonprofit based in Colorado, said he is pleased to see the move to implement the programs, but is concerned about the extent of fuel shifting.
“While there are certainly many electrically heated homes that deserve efficiency upgrades, helping homes transition from propane, fuel oil and natural gas to highly efficient electrical technologies was one of the most transformative aspects of the original program design,” she said in an email.
Asked for comment, a Department of Energy spokesperson had this comment: “The Department of Energy has issued common sense amendments to the program guidance to more closely align requirements with statutory requirements, ensure upfront affordability, good stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and empower grant recipients to tailor their programs to local contexts and the needs of residents.”
State programs administer the funds but the federal government must approve state plans before funds are released. Most states and the District of Columbia have approved at least some of their plans, according to Atlas Public Policy’s May 18 update.
Some have already paid out rebates based on initial rules under the Biden administration. Those states now have three months to modify their programs to comply with the new guidelines.
South Dakota has refused to participate and Idaho’s legislature has taken action to prevent it from participating.
Consumers can contact their state energy offices to obtain more information about program availability.
Dan Gearino covers the business and policy of renewable energy and utilities, often with an emphasis on the Midwestern United States. He is the lead author of ICN’s Inside Clean Energy newsletter. He came to ICN in 2018 after a nine-year stint at the Columbus Dispatch, where he covered the business of energy. Previously, he covered politics and business in Iowa and New Hampshire. He grew up in Warren County, Iowa, just south of Des Moines, and lives in Columbus, Ohio.
This story originally appeared on Inside Climate News.
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