Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s Remarks on Biden Administration’s First Home Energy Rebates Program

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Queens, N.Y.

Secretary Jennifer Granholm Saying the Biden Administration’s First Residence Power Rebates Program in Queens, NY on Could thirtieth, 2024.

Admire Yoselín (Genao Estrella). Thanks to your management and all the things that you’re doing right here in Queens to ensure that no one is left behind. And that we take into account neighborhoods, and we take into account folks in these neighborhoods—however significantly those that could not have the sources to have the ability to pay their power payments.

Which is what we’re speaking about at this time.

It’s nice to be right here at Andromeda Neighborhood Initiative, an outstanding group that’s constructing the workforce of the longer term right here.

I additionally should acknowledge, clearly, Governor Hochul, who has been such an amazing champion.

(Applause)

And we’ll get to her in a minute. Chief Schumer goes to be becoming a member of us shortly, I do know. Senior Advisor to the President, John Podesta…

(Applause)

…who has been working all of this behind the scenes. Doreen Harris of NYSERDA, who’s doing nice work, working in communities.

(Applause and cheers)

And I’ve to acknowledge my staff, who’re right here in drive. Our Below Secretary for Infrastructure, David Crane, and the entire staff at DOE…

(Applause)

...our State and Neighborhood Power Packages who’ve been engaged on this—the partnership with states—to have the ability to do these rebates. And I say these partnerships with states (are) so very, very vital, as a result of that is the place the motion occurs. States and communities. Proper?

So I’m—together with John Podesta—we’re actually proud to be right here representing the President of the US, President Biden.

(Applause and cheers)

Can I simply say, , there’s numerous discuss in regards to the economic system and all of that. 15 million jobs created, greater than any president in any time within the historical past of the US, all of that. All of those factories which are popping up throughout America.

All of that’s true.

However the President is absolutely obsessive about decreasing prices for folks. He’s actually obsessive about folks’s pocketbooks.

So he’s attempting to determine each attainable means the federal authorities can decrease prices for folks.

Perhaps it’s pupil loans, relieving pupil mortgage debt. Perhaps it’s giving first-time owners the flexibility to get a down cost on a house. Perhaps it’s lowering the price of pharmaceuticals. Perhaps it’s these junk charges. You’ve heard all these items.

Right now, we’re speaking about power payments, and ensuring that folks have the flexibility to afford residing of their houses.

So final month, simply for example, one in three households stated that they needed to forgo a fundamental necessity, like meals or drugs, as a way to pay their power payments.

We all know that making houses environment friendly—proper?—is vital to lowering these power prices. (Power) effectivity is commonly considered because the “first fuel,” the gasoline that’s the most cost-effective and most plentiful, since you don’t should pay for that power in any respect if you happen to don’t use it.

And over the previous few a long time—due to numerous the work that’s being executed on the Division of Power and our Nationwide Laboratories—numerous the applied sciences that scale back power use are actually obtainable and in the marketplace and being deployed, which is terrific.

We’ve acquired extra energy-efficient home equipment. We’ve acquired stoves which are power environment friendly, we’ve acquired water boilers, we’ve acquired warmth pump know-how.

We’ve acquired broader upgrades that we’re funding—from insulation of buildings, higher home windows, higher air flow, electrical panels, all of that.

However , the kicker is that it typically tends to be wealthier households who can afford these merchandise. And good for the rich. However poor households want them and may have entry to those applied sciences as a result of they want them extra.

And I say that as a result of when a furnace or an air conditioner breaks down, for instance, poor folks—if they’ll discover the cash to return up entrance to interchange it in any respect, proper?—typically, they may, understandably, discover the most cost effective different. And the most cost effective different could be the least environment friendly different.

So then they find yourself placing these home equipment in a house. And infrequently it’s the poor whose houses are the leakiest, the least environment friendly general, by way of not having the correct insulation.

And so that you perpetuate a cycle if you happen to don’t ensure that folks have the instruments and the know-how to seal up their houses in order that they’ll decrease their power payments.

Now some states, like New York, have been main the best way on this which is—bravo to you.

(Applause)

However now you will have a federal effort on the dimensions that’s wanted to make these applied sciences obtainable to all Individuals.

President Biden got here in and he stated, “We have got to lower energy bills for people. ”

And he signed this laws—in partnership with Senator Schumer and his management—a $9 billion invoice that enables for states to companion with the federal authorities to decrease folks’s power payments.

The Biden administration’s agenda right here has three components. The primary half is that each one taxpayers, it doesn’t matter what your revenue degree, you may qualify for credit, tax credit, on energy-efficient home equipment and upgrades.

…And there he’s! The person of the hour! Senator Schumer!

(Applause)

So due to the senator’s shaping of this invoice, this primary half—having tax credit obtainable for everyone. You may get a couple of 30% tax break if you happen to set up energy-efficient know-how in your house. After all, you then save in your power payments each day after.

The second a part of the agenda is that we took steps to assist the lowest-income Individuals weatherize their houses. So the Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, considered one of these key payments, delivered a tenfold improve on weatherization funding—our Weatherization Help Program.

New York, for instance, acquired a rise of about $300 million to have the ability to weatherize poor folks’s houses.

And the third—at this time’s massive information—which is to really lay the groundwork for house effectivity throughout America, we’d like the states and the territories and the tribes within the recreation to assist residents get monetary savings.

In order that $9 billion will imply that every state now has the flexibility to supply low- and moderate-income houses as much as $14,000 on house power rebates for these home equipment.

(Applause)

$14,000.

And that’s off the highest, on the entrance finish, proper? And you then save in your payments roughly 30% each month after that. So it’s a win-win.

So at this time, massive announcement, is that as of at this time, New York is the primary within the nation to launch its house power rebates program in partnership with the federal authorities.

(Applause and cheers)

So New Yorkers on the market, if you’re , it’s best to name 1-866 NYSERDA—N-Y-S-E-R-D-A!—to seek out out if you happen to’re eligible and to be sure you get on the record.

As a result of you may have that $14,000 utilized to the set up of a warmth pump, for instance. Or the set up of insulation or {the electrical} upgrades which are essential to make it occur.

Our staff shall be visiting a house after this press convention that NYSERDA, by their Empower+ Program, has already executed the upgrades for. And in that house, as a result of they changed a boiler and an oil tank with a warmth pump, that home-owner goes to save lots of $190 a month on their power invoice.

(Applause)

$190 bucks a month. I imply, that’s some huge cash for people, proper?

$2,280 bucks a yr. That’s—that’s big. That’s big.

And that’s the sort of factor we would like to have the ability to ship to folks and to ensure that they’ll sleep at evening.

Hotline: 866-NYSERDA.

So there are extra financial savings to return.

New York has—this is step one of New York’s enlargement of this, their already nice program. And there’ll be a second step that may increase it even additional—once more, with partnership with the federal authorities.

In case you are on the market nationally, and also you’re questioning in case your state is doing, what New York is doing, you may go to energy.gov/save and discover out the place your state is within the means of getting these rebates going.

We would like each state to take part. Each state to observe New York’s lead. And each state to ensure that residents have the flexibility to sleep at evening.

To be freed from fear.

To not have to decide on between meals or power.

And to ensure that their house is one that’s buttoned down, secure, and reasonably priced for his or her households.

So with that, I wish to introduce to you the chief in New York who’s making this occur—as a result of it’s NYSERDA who’s making this occur, however she is such a warrior on clear power. She is a warrior on power effectivity. Please give it up to your governor—Governor Hochul.

(Applause)

Associated podcast dialogue with Nina Haiman, NYSERDA Program Supervisor for Clear Transportation: