Weatherization Grants is one of the under reported provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, grant funding of $8 Billion for the Weatherization Assistance Grant Program and State Energy Grants makes this one of the largest Free Money programs. Almost $5 Billion is allocated to the Weatherization Grant Program, and State Energy Programs, will receive up to $3 billion. This is expected to create 87,000 jobs installing insulation, new windows, and efficient heating systems, saving families hundreds of dollars every year on utility bills while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
State Weatherization Grant Programs provide rebates up to $6,500 per home for home energy audits or other energy-saving improvements such as adding more insulation, sealing leaks, and modernizing heating and air conditioning equipment. At $6500 per home these grants offer much higher funding than any of the other programs such as “Cash for Clunkers” and “Cash for Appliances” Families with income as high as 200% of the federal poverty level qualify for these grants. 200% of the poverty level includes a family of 4 with income of $44,000 per year in the lower 48 states, $55,140 per year in Alaska, $50,720 per year in Hawaii.
While the Weatherization Grants have been ongoing since 1976 the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has provided a vast expansion to the existing programs to provide additional jobs in the weatherization industry. The Weatherization Grants are administered by the individual states and their programs vary widely depending on the states needs. Grant money in some areas is used for contractor training, existing business expansion and the creation of new businesses to cover the demand of the work to be done. Technologies that are used in the Weatherization Grant Program include insulation, energy saving doors and windows, energy efficient lighting, energy efficient heating and air conditioning, duct sealing, solar water heating, water conservation, and alternative energy programs just to name a few. Consumers and Contractors should immediately check for details in their states to see how the Weatherization Grant Program is administered, where to apply, and what is available to them. 411Plumb will continue to provide additional information as it becomes available.
So far Weatherization Grant money has been released to the following states with additional money to be awarded later after the individual states have proven the effectiveness of their programs:
- Alabama – $28,720,240 awarded after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $35 million, for a total of nearly $72 million.
- Alaska – $7,257,032 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $9 million, for a total of more than $18 million.
- Arizona – $22,809,311 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $28 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $57 million.
- Arkansas – $19.2 Million awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $24 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $48 million.
- California – $74,324,424 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $92 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $185 million.
- Colorado – $31,812,485 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive almost $40 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $79 million.
- Connecticut – $25,724,201 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $32 million, for a total of over $64 million.
- District of Columbia – $3,235,609 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the district will receive more than $4 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $8 million.
- Delaware – $5,493,467 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $6 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $13 million.
- Florida – $70,393,790 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $87 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $175 million.
- Georgia – $49,902,524 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than an additional $62 million, for a total of nearly $125 million.
- Hawaii – $1,616,984 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $2 million, for a total of more than $4 million.
- Idaho – $12,136,772 awarded after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $15.2 million, for a total of over $30 million.
- Illinois – $97,010,647 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $121 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $242.5 million.
- Indiana – $52,738,953 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive almost $66 million in additional funding, for a total of nearly $132 million.
- Iowa – $32.3 Million awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than an additional $40 million, for a total of more than $80 million.
- Kansas – $22,576,708 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $28 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $56 million.
- Kentucky – $28.3 Million awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than an additional $35 million, for a total of more than $70 million.
- Maine – $16,774,006 Awarded after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $21 million, for a total of nearly $42 million.
- Maryland – $24,576,698 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $30 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $61 million.
- Massachusetts – $48.8 Million awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive an additional $61 million, for a total of more than $122 million.
- Michigan – $97.3 Million Awarded after demonstrating successful implementation of its plan, the state will receive over $121 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $243 million.
- Minnesota – $52.7 Million Awarded Minnesota will use its Weatherization Grant funding to weatherize more than 16,800 households over the next three years. The DOE Press Release did not list the additional amount Minnesota would receive after demonstrates successful implementation of the Weatherization Grant program but like the other states there should be additional funding in the future.
- Mississippi – $19,768,477 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $24 million in remaining funds, for a total of more than $49 million.
- Missouri – $51,259,211 Awarded after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $64 million, for a total of over $128 million.
- Montana – $10,617,511 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $13 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $26 million.
- Nebraska – $16,657,783 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $20.8 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $41 million
- Nevada – $14,912,775 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $18.6 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $37 million.
- New Hampshire – $9.3 Million Awarded after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive over $11.5 million in additional funding, for a total of over $23 million.
- New Jersey – $47,528,518 Awarded after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $59.4 million, for a total of nearly $119 million.
- New Mexico – $10,742,242 awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive over $13 million in additional funding, for a total of nearly $27 million.
- New York – $157,874,605 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than an additional $197 million, for a total of more than $394 million.
- North Carolina – $52,781,814 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $65 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $131 million.
- North Dakota – $10,106,532 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than an additional $12 million, for a total of more than $25 million.
- Ohio – $106,712,564 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than an additional $133 million, for a total of more than $266 million.
- Oklahoma – $24,361,278 Awarded after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $30.5 million, for a total of nearly $61 million.
- Oregon – $15,404,894 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $19 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $38 million.
- Rhode Island – $8,029,446 Awarded after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $10 million, for a total of more than $20 million.
- South Carolina – $23,557,108 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than an additional $29 million, for a total of more than $58 million.
- South Dakota – $9,794,918 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than an additional $12 million, for a total of more than $24 million.
- Texas – $130,790,293 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $163 million, for a total of nearly $327 million.
- Utah – $15,158,881 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than an additional $18 million, for a total of more than $37 million.
- Vermont – $6,737,030 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $8.4 million, for a total of nearly $17 million.
- Virginia – $37,653,710 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $47.1 million, for a total of more than $94 million.
- Washington State – $23,818,030 awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $29 million in additional funding, for a total of over $59 million.
- West Virginia – $15,033,550 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive more than $18 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $37 million.
- Wisconsin – $56,600,853 awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $70.8 million, for a total in excess of $141 million.
- Wyoming – $4,095,704 Awarded, after demonstrating successful implementation the state will receive an additional $5.1 million, for a total of more than $10 million.
Weatherization Grant details have not yet been released for Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
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