Last week, President Joe Biden and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Florida will be getting $93.6 million in Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) funds.
The funds come the infrastructure package passed on a largely partisan vote back in November with more than $3.1 billion being spent across the nation.
“This expanded funding, which is enabled by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will allow states to retrofit thousands of low-incomes homes to make them healthier and more energy efficient while lowering utility bills. WAP retrofit funding is designed to address the “whole home” including installing insulation, updating heating and cooling systems, upgrading electrical appliances, and taking other common-sense actions that will make homes warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer with less energy usage,” the DEO announced. “President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law expands the reach of WAP to help more state, local, and tribal governments reduce household energy use – saving consumers money, reducing emissions, and improving the health and safety of homes in communities that are disproportionally impacted by high energy costs. The program furthers President Biden’s efforts to lower costs for families while growing an equitable clean energy economy on our path to a net zero emissions economy by 2050. The program also implements the president’s Justice40 commitment, which aims to ensure that federal agencies deliver at least 40 percent of benefits from certain investments to disadvantaged communities.”
U.S. Energy Sec. Jennifer Granholm weighed in on the funds last week.
“Home energy retrofits and upgrades – like electrification, heat pumps, LED lighting, insulation, and sealing up leaks – can slash monthly energy bills for families and improve the air we breathe,” said Granholm. “Thanks to the transformative investments in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we will be able to help households in disadvantaged communities, reduce carbon emissions, and generate good-paying local jobs in every corner of America.”
This week, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., who sits on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, applauded the funds on Wednesday.
“The expanded funding will enable more Floridians to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes, helping to keep them cool and healthy in the Florida heat, while reducing emissions and lowering utility bills.,” Crist’s office noted.
“Floridians are tired of paying high energy prices to keep their lights on and home cooled,” said Crist. “With summer on the way, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I was proud to support is delivering over $93 million to Floridians to help make their homes more energy efficient and bring down utility bills. That’s what government should be doing – deliver savings for you, the people!”
