On November 2, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it will provide approximately $9 billion to states and Native American Tribes under sections 50121 and 50122 of the IRA. Section 50121 of the IRA authorizes EPA to award grants to states to develop and implement Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) rebate programs that support home energy efficiency retrofits. Section 50122 of the IRA authorizes EPA to award grants to states and Tribes to develop and implement High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate programs that support electric appliance upgrades.
The November 2 announcement indicates that, “[f]rom November to January, DOE will hold a series of listening sessions to engage a wide array of stakeholders, including direct engagement with states and Tribes, labor, industry, and others, on these consumer rebate programs. Following the listening sessions, DOE will issue a Request for Information for public input in early 2023. DOE anticipates that the funding to states and Tribes will be available by Spring 2023, and the rebates will be available to the public later in the year.”