Homeowners and property owners, pay attention: Comprehensive new energy rebate programs for homes have introduced in some states and are in the works in most others. Two billion-dollar federal initiatives funded by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 offer thousands of dollars in savings for whole-home efficiency improvements and appliance upgrades. In May, New York the first state to launch its Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program. Wisconsin followed recently launched the first state-level Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) program. Some of the incentives are open to all income levels, while others are reserved for low-income residents.
The state’s second zero-energy school is also being built in Wisconsin. Opening planned for next yearWisconsin’s first net-zero school, a $40 million elementary school in Dane County powered by a mix of solar and geothermal energy, opened in 2020. The district confirmed end of 2021 that after the first full year of operation, the building produced as much electricity as it consumed.
In Illinois, a law came into force in January that requires builders to provide charging facilities for electric vehicles in houses and apartments. Real estate agents are starting to Consider this a selling point – although most buyers aren’t looking for it (yet). But compared to homeowners who have already been able to install electric vehicle charging stations for a few hundred or thousand dollars, many renters struggle with intermittent access to charging at home and could benefit more from the change.
New York State committed in 2019 to getting 70% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. That goal is not expected to be achieved until 2033 at the earliest, according to the state Public Service Commission. said last monthGovernor Kathy Hochul is now under pressure from business groups that oppose certain climate regulations. could be open to relaxation some of the standards in the 2019 law – an approach that climate activists reject.
The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission this week selected a Texas company lease the Keen Wildlife Area for fracking. It is one of several approvals The commission has approved fracking under state parks and conservation lands since a law to do so took effect last year. Several Ohio environmental groups filed suit late last year to stop the leases. The suit was released in FebruaryBut The appeal process is still ongoing.
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