42 USC 18795 - Home energy performance-based, whole-house rebates

Collapse to view only § 18795. Home energy performance-based, whole-house rebates

§ 18795. Home energy performance-based, whole-house rebates
§ 18795a. High-efficiency electric home rebate program
§ 18795b. State-based home energy efficiency contractor training grants

§ 18795. Home energy performance-based, whole-house rebates

(a) Appropriation

(1) In general

(2) Allocation of funds

(A) In generalThe Secretary shall reserve funds made available under paragraph (1) for each State energy office—

(i) in accordance with the allocation formula for the State Energy Program in effect on January 1, 2022; and

(ii) to be distributed to a State energy office if the application of the State energy office under subsection (b) is approved.

(B) Additional funds

(3) Administrative expensesOf the funds made available under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use not more than 3 percent for—

(A) administrative purposes; and

(B) providing technical assistance relating to activities carried out under this section.

(b) ApplicationA State energy office seeking a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes a plan to implement a HOMES rebate program, including a plan—

(1) to use procedures, as approved by the Secretary, for determining the reductions in home energy use resulting from the implementation of a home energy efficiency retrofit that are calibrated to historical energy usage for a home consistent with BPI 2400, for purposes of modeled performance home rebates;

(2) to use open-source advanced measurement and verification software, as approved by the Secretary, for determining and documenting the monthly and hourly (if available) weather-normalized energy use of a home before and after the implementation of a home energy efficiency retrofit, for purposes of measured performance home rebates;

(3) to value savings based on time, location, or greenhouse gas emissions;

(4) for quality monitoring to ensure that each home energy efficiency retrofit for which a rebate is provided is documented in a certificate that—

(A) is provided by the contractor and certified by a third party to the homeowner; and

(B) details the work performed, the equipment and materials installed, and the projected energy savings or energy generation to support accurate valuation of the retrofit;

(5) to provide a contractor performing a home energy efficiency retrofit or an aggregator who has the right to claim a rebate $200 for each home located in a disadvantaged community that receives a home energy efficiency retrofit for which a rebate is provided under the program; and

(6) to ensure that a homeowner or aggregator does not receive a rebate for the same upgrade through both a HOMES rebate program and any other Federal grant or rebate program, pursuant to subsection (c)(7).

(1) In general

(2) Amount of rebateSubject to paragraph (3), under a HOMES rebate program, the amount of a rebate shall not exceed—

(A) for individuals and aggregators carrying out energy efficiency upgrades of single-family homes—

(i) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 20 percent but less than 35 percent, the lesser of—(I) $2,000; and(II) 50 percent of the project cost;

(ii) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 35 percent, the lesser of—(I) $4,000; and(II) 50 percent of the project cost; and

(iii) for measured energy savings, in the case of a home or portfolio of homes that achieves energy savings of not less than 15 percent—(I) a payment rate per kilowatt hour saved, or kilowatt hour-equivalent saved, equal to $2,000 for a 20 percent reduction of energy use for the average home in the State; or(II) 50 percent of the project cost;

(B) for multifamily building owners and aggregators carrying out energy efficiency upgrades of multifamily buildings—

(i) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 20 percent but less than 35 percent, $2,000 per dwelling unit, with a maximum of $200,000 per multifamily building;

(ii) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 35 percent, $4,000 per dwelling unit, with a maximum of $400,000 per multifamily building; or

(iii) for measured energy savings, in the case of a multifamily building or portfolio of multifamily buildings that achieves energy savings of not less than 15 percent—(I) a payment rate per kilowatt hour saved, or kilowatt hour-equivalent saved, equal to $2,000 for a 20 percent reduction of energy use per dwelling unit for the average multifamily building in the State; or(II) 50 percent of the project cost; and

(C) for individuals and aggregators carrying out energy efficiency upgrades of a single-family home occupied by a low- or moderate-income household or a multifamily building not less than 50 percent of the dwelling units of which are occupied by low- or moderate-income households—

(i) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 20 percent but less than 35 percent, the lesser of—(I) $4,000 per single-family home or dwelling unit; and(II) 80 percent of the project cost;

(ii) in the case of a retrofit that achieves modeled energy system savings of not less than 35 percent, the lesser of—(I) $8,000 per single-family home or dwelling unit; and(II) 80 percent of the project cost; and

(iii) for measured energy savings, in the case of a single-family home, multifamily building, or portfolio of single-family homes or multifamily buildings that achieves energy savings of not less than 15 percent—(I) a payment rate per kilowatt hour saved, or kilowatt hour-equivalent saved, equal to $4,000 for a 20 percent reduction of energy use per single-family home or dwelling unit, as applicable, for the average single-family home or multifamily building in the State; or(II) 80 percent of the project cost.

(3) Rebates to low- or moderate-income households

(4) Use of funds

(5) Data access guidelines

(6) Exemption

(7) Prohibition on combining rebates

(d) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Disadvantaged community

(2) HOMES rebate program

(3) Low- or moderate-income household

(Pub. L. 117–169, title V, § 50121, Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2033.)

§ 18795a. High-efficiency electric home rebate program

(a) Appropriations

(1) Funds to State energy offices and Indian TribesIn addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Secretary for fiscal year 2022, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to carry out a program—

(A) to award grants to State energy offices to develop and implement a high-efficiency electric home rebate program in accordance with subsection (c), $4,275,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2031; and

(B) to award grants to Indian Tribes to develop and implement a high-efficiency electric home rebate program in accordance with subsection (c), $225,000,000, to remain available through September 30, 2031.

(2) Allocation of funds

(A) State energy officesThe Secretary shall reserve funds made available under paragraph (1)(A) for each State energy office—

(i) in accordance with the allocation formula for the State Energy Program in effect on January 1, 2022; and

(ii) to be distributed to a State energy office if the application of the State energy office under subsection (b) is approved.

(B) Indian TribesThe Secretary shall reserve funds made available under paragraph (1)(B)—

(i) in a manner determined appropriate by the Secretary; and

(ii) to be distributed to an Indian Tribe if the application of the Indian Tribe under subsection (b) is approved.

(i) subparagraph (A) but not distributed under clause (ii) of that subparagraph shall be redistributed to the State energy offices operating a high-efficiency electric home rebate program in proportion to the amount distributed to those State energy offices under that clause; and

(ii) subparagraph (B) but not distributed under clause (ii) of that subparagraph shall be redistributed to the Indian Tribes operating a high-efficiency electric home rebate program in proportion to the amount distributed to those Indian Tribes under that clause.

(3) Administrative expensesOf the funds made available under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use not more than 3 percent for—

(A) administrative purposes; and

(B) providing technical assistance relating to activities carried out under this section.

(b) ApplicationA State energy office or Indian Tribe seeking a grant under the program shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes a plan to implement a high-efficiency electric home rebate program, including—

(1) a plan to verify the income eligibility of eligible entities seeking a rebate for a qualified electrification project;

(2) a plan to allow rebates for qualified electrification projects at the point of sale in a manner that ensures that the income eligibility of an eligible entity seeking a rebate may be verified at the point of sale;

(3) a plan to ensure that an eligible entity does not receive a rebate for the same qualified electrification project through both a high-efficiency electric home rebate program and any other Federal grant or rebate program, pursuant to subsection (c)(8); and

(4) any additional information that the Secretary may require.

(1) In general

(2) Guidelines

(3) Amount of rebate

(A) Appliance upgradesThe amount of a rebate provided under a high-efficiency electric home rebate program for the purchase of an appliance under a qualified electrification project shall be—

(i) not more than $1,750 for a heat pump water heater;

(ii) not more than $8,000 for a heat pump for space heating or cooling; and

(iii) not more than $840 for—(I) an electric stove, cooktop, range, or oven; or(II) an electric heat pump clothes dryer.

(B) Nonappliance upgradesThe amount of a rebate provided under a high-efficiency electric home rebate program for the purchase of a nonappliance upgrade under a qualified electrification project shall be—

(i) not more than $4,000 for an electric load service center upgrade;

(ii) not more than $1,600 for insulation, air sealing, and ventilation; and

(iii) not more than $2,500 for electric wiring.

(4) LimitationsA rebate provided using funding under this section shall not exceed—

(A) in the case of an eligible entity described in subsection (d)(1)(A)—

(i) 50 percent of the cost of the qualified electrification project for a household the annual income of which is not less than 80 percent and not greater than 150 percent of the area median income; and

(ii) 100 percent of the cost of the qualified electrification project for a household the annual income of which is less than 80 percent of the area median income;

(B) in the case of an eligible entity described in subsection (d)(1)(B)—

(i) 50 percent of the cost of the qualified electrification project for a multifamily building not less than 50 percent of the residents of which are households the annual income of which is not less than 80 percent and not greater than 150 percent of the area median income; and

(ii) 100 percent of the cost of the qualified electrification project for a multifamily building not less than 50 percent of the residents of which are households the annual income of which is less than 80 percent of the area median income; or

(i) 50 percent of the cost of the qualified electrification project for a household—(I) on behalf of which the eligible entity is working; and(II) the annual income of which is not less than 80 percent and not greater than 150 percent of the area median income; and

(ii) 100 percent of the cost of the qualified electrification project for a household—(I) on behalf of which the eligible entity is working; and(II) the annual income of which is less than 80 percent of the area median income.

(5) Amount for installation of upgrades

(A) In generalIn the case of an eligible entity described in subsection (d)(1)(C) that receives a rebate under the program and performs the installation of the applicable qualified electrification project, a State energy office or Indian Tribe shall provide to that eligible entity, in addition to the rebate, an amount that—

(i) does not exceed $500; and

(ii) is commensurate with the scale of the upgrades installed as part of the qualified electrification project, as determined by the Secretary.

(B) Treatment

(6) Requirement

(7) Exemption

(8) Prohibition on combining rebates

(9) Administrative costs

(d) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Eligible entityThe term “eligible entity” means—

(A) a low- or moderate-income household;

(B) an individual or entity that owns a multifamily building not less than 50 percent of the residents of which are low- or moderate-income households; and

(C) a governmental, commercial, or nonprofit entity, as determined by the Secretary, carrying out a qualified electrification project on behalf of an entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B).

(2) High-efficiency electric home rebate program

(3) Indian Tribe

(4) Low- or moderate-income household

(5) Program

(6) Qualified electrification project

(A) In generalThe term “qualified electrification project” means a project that—

(i) includes the purchase and installation of—(I) an electric heat pump water heater;(II) an electric heat pump for space heating and cooling;(III) an electric stove, cooktop, range, or oven;(IV) an electric heat pump clothes dryer;(V) an electric load service center;(VI) insulation;(VII) air sealing and materials to improve ventilation; or(VIII) electric wiring;

(ii) with respect to any appliance described in clause (i), the purchase of which is carried out—(I) as part of new construction;(II) to replace a nonelectric appliance; or(III) as a first-time purchase with respect to that appliance; and

(iii) is carried out at, or relating to, a single-family home or multifamily building, as applicable and defined by the Secretary.

(B) Exclusions

(Pub. L. 117–169, title V, § 50122, Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2036.)

§ 18795b. State-based home energy efficiency contractor training grants

(a) Appropriation

(b) Use of funds

A State may use amounts received under subsection (a)—

(1) to reduce the cost of training contractor employees;

(2) to provide testing and certification of contractors trained and educated under a State program developed and implemented pursuant to subsection (a); and

(3) to partner with nonprofit organizations to develop and implement a State program pursuant to subsection (a).

(Pub. L. 117–169, title V, § 50123, Aug. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2041.)