Biden-Harris Admin Invests $36 Million to Expand Innovative Weatherization Assistance Program & Cut Costs for Low-Income Households Across the Country

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As A part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, Funding Helps Weatherization Demonstration Tasks That Will Drive America’s Clear Power Economic system and Decrease Utility Payments

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As a part of President Biden’s Investing in America agendathe U.S. Division of Power (DOE) right this moment introduced that purposes are open for the $36 million Enhancement & Innovation (E&I) aggressive grant program that goals to expedite the nation’s shift to scrub power via demonstration initiatives, decreasing heating and cooling payments for American households. Tasks that obtain funding via the Weatherization Help Program (WAP) is not going to solely assist low-income houses by making them safer and extra comfy with the newest cutting-edge weatherization methods, but additionally function a chance to showcase finest practices that might be adopted throughout the nation.

“Today’s investments will expand the reach of the Weatherization Assistance Program: Helping low-income households while jumpstarting the clean energy economy,” mentioned U.S. Secretary of Power Jennifer M. Granholm. “These grant recipients are deploying ambitious projects to create the nation’s first historically-black, net-zero energy neighborhood, deploying solar technology, launching new workforce development tools and more. DOE is thrilled to offer another opportunity to bring scalable innovations for greener buildings, while preparing a skilled, diverse American workforce with good-paying jobs.”

The WAP E&I grant program goals to make houses environment friendly and wholesome, assist our power effectivity workforce, and advances President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative. Complementary to the WAP program, which presents method funding to state entities, the E&I program presents aggressive funding and suppleness to permit a broader vary of modern weatherization actions together with the set up of renewable power applied sciences, electrification, extra expansive well being and security measures, and complete workforce growth. For instance, a proposal might provide on-the-job weatherization coaching the place trainees discover ways to substitute outdated wiring or restore a leaky roof.

Profitable grant initiatives will decrease utility payments for communities with increased power prices by increasing the variety of weatherization-ready houses, making ready extra houses for electrification, adopting renewable power applied sciences, deploying enhanced well being and security measures, and sharing new weatherization finest practices. Moreover, this system encourages weatherization suppliers to rent, prepare, and retain staff inside their native communities with good-paying jobs.

DOE plans to concern a number of awards, every with a most quantity of $2 million. Eligible entities embody present WAP grantees, subgrantees, and different nonprofit organizations. Functions can be accepted in three classes: Multifamily, Single Household & Manufactured Housing, or Workforce Improvement.

An non-compulsory informational webinar for potential candidates will happen on August 6, 2024 at 2pm ET. Functions are due by September 27, 2024. DOE intends to announce E&I picks in late February 2025.

Since 1976, WAP has served over seven million households, which get pleasure from as much as 30% discount in family power payments. Tasks supported by this funding will develop the varieties of residential buildings eligible for power effectivity retrofits, put together extra houses for electrification, and enhance alternatives for native, clear power jobs. It is going to additionally present focused advantages to communities disproportionally impacted by excessive power burden, supporting the Biden Administration’s dedication to an equitable clear power transition. Learn extra about previous E&I grant recipients here.

By means of the Office of State and Community Energy ProgramsDOE is overseeing the administration of those applications, and dealing to make sure that no communities are left behind within the transition to a clear power future.

For extra info, go to the Weatherization Assistance Program web site or see the total Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Courtesy of Division of Power.