Trump's DOE restarts energy rebate program with dumb conditions
Summary
The U.S. Department of Energy has updated its rules for two energy rebate programs, no longer supporting rebates for switching home heating from fossil fuels to electricity. These changes follow legal battles after President Trump halted funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, and now eliminate considerations of diversity and environmental justice from the programs.Key Facts
- The Department of Energy released updated guidance for two consumer energy rebate programs totaling $8.8 billion in funding.
- The Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) program offers up to $8,000 for home energy efficiency upgrades that reduce energy use by at least 20%.
- The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) program offers up to $14,000 in rebates for efficient electric appliances and equipment.
- The new rules stop rebates for switching heating systems from fossil fuels to electric, except for new homes or households that already use electric heat.
- Previous requirements encouraging diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental justice (Justice40 initiative) were removed from the program guidelines.
- Households must upgrade insulation and air sealing before qualifying for rebates on new heating appliances.
- These changes came after President Trump canceled funding from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, but a court restored the funding in March 2025.
- Energy and environmental groups criticized the guidance, saying it moves away from the original goals of the programs and limits the shift away from fossil fuels.
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