The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 makes the single largest investment in climate and energy in American history, enabling America to tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice and put the United States on a pathway to achieving the Biden Administration’s climate goals, including a net-zero economy by 2050.
The Inflation Reduction Act offers incentives through various federal agency programs.
Funds from the Act will also provide additional state-level incentives and programs.
Provides tax credits up to $2,500 for new homes meeting Energy Star standards and up to $5,000 for certified zero energy ready homes.
Also provides tax credits for multi-family homes, with up to $500 per unit for meeting Energy Star standards and up to $1,000 per unit for zero energy ready homes.
Provides a 30 percent tax credit for the purchase of residential clean energy equipment, including rooftop solar, wind, geothermal and battery storage capacity of at least 3 kWh.
Related: DNREC Green Energy Program
Provides a tax credit for energy efficiency improvements to residential homes. The base credit amount is 30 percent of the cost, with limits for each type of improvement and total per year.
The total annual credit is capped at $1,200, with an additional annual $2,000 cap for heat pumps and $150 credit for home energy audits.
Provides a tax credit up to a maximum $7,500 for purchase of a new qualifying clean vehicle, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel cell vehicles.
Provides a tax credit up to $4,000 for the purchase of used electric vehicles.
Related: DNREC Clean Vehicle Rebate Program
Award of $33.0M
The program will offer “whole house rebates” for energy efficiency improvements.
Rebate amounts will be determined based on the energy saved, either modeled or measured. Rebate amounts will vary across single family and multifamily with LMI versions of each. Depending on the percent of modeled or measured savings achieved, rebates will range from $2k to $8k per home or unit.
Funding Status: Early administrative portion of funding application approved by USDOE and funding received and being used for program design work; full application (with specific program designs) will be submitted TBD, but likely in early fall.
Award of $33.0M
The program will offer rebates for electric appliances and other efficiency measures.
Rebates are specifically targeted to low-income households. Rebates will range from $500 to $8k depending on the type of appliance or efficiency measure.
Types of measures that will be incentivized include heat pump water heater; heat pump for space heating and cooling; electric stove, cooktop, range, or oven; heat pump clothes dryer; electrical load service center upgrade; insulation, air sealing, and ventilation; and electric wiring.
Funding Status: Early administrative portion of funding application approved by USDOE and funding received and being used for program design work; full application (with specific program designs) will be submitted TBD, but likely in early fall.
Requesting competitive award of $100M.
The grant application is geared toward assisting underserved communities and increasing energy equity with various renewable energy deployments.
The application focuses on 4 main categories:
It is estimated that the award would reach 30,000 Delaware households.
Funding Status: Delaware’s Solar For All grant funding application was not among those awarded in an April 22, 2024 announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency.
$1.2M in one-time funding.
The program makes funding available to train, test, and certify residential energy efficiency and electrification contractors.
States can partner with nonprofit organizations to develop and implement these programs that will prepare contractors and their employees to bring clean energy technologies into homes.
USDOE guidance was issued in July of 2023. The approach and design are still TBD.
Funding status: Application to be submitted to USDOE by April 30, 2024.
$ – TBD
The program is designed to provide grants to eligible states to train individuals to conduct energy audits or surveys of commercial and residential buildings to build the clean energy workforce, save customers money on their energy bills, and reduce pollution from building energy use.
USDOE guidance was issued in July of 2023. The approach and design are still TBD.
Funding Status: Application to be submitted to USDOE by June 28, 2024
$ – TBD – Awards for this subtopic are estimated to be up to $10M
This topic area aids states in adopting and implementing zero energy codes with combinations of strengthening and weakening amendments, custom zero codes, or stretch codes.
Application requests funding for:
Funding Status: Application to be submitted to USDOE by April 30, 2024
$ – TBD – Awards for this subtopic are estimated to be up to $20M
This topic area aids states and units of local government that have the authority to adopt and implement innovative energy codes.
Application requests funding to be used to:
Funding Status: Application to be submitted to USDOE by April 30, 2024
DNREC is the recipient of a $3 million planning grant from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. This funding will be used to update the emissions component of Delaware’s Climate Action Plan and to create an interim “Priority Climate Action Plan” which will identify key short-term priorities for maximizing rapid emissions reduction.
Status: The completed Priority Climate Action Plan, which will be based on the 2021 Delaware Climate Action Plan, will also enable Delaware and interested municipalities to apply for a CPRG implementation grant in March 2024. For more information about the CPRG implementation grant program, refer to EPA’s CPRG implementation grant webpage and the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the most up-to-date information on the grants.
Learn more about state programs currently available to assist businesses, and homeowners improve energy efficiency and transition to clean energy and transportation.
Related Topics: climate coastal energy, efficiency, energy, energy conservation, funding, incentives