Minnesotans this month have a chance to share their thoughts on how the state should distribute home energy rebates. With federal incentives coming in, officials want to ensure equal access to new technologies.
Starting next Wednesday, the Commerce Department will host a series of public hearings on rebates funded through the Inflation Reduction Act. Mia Naseth-Phillips, the department’s director of energy programs for inclusion and equity, said this aid can help eligible households get appliances and heating and cooling systems that reduce their energy burden. She said they especially want to reach people who otherwise couldn’t afford emerging technologies that make a home’s carbon footprint smaller.
“And that becomes a repeated theme,” she said, “that, ‘I’m having a hard time paying my bills. They’re very high. How can I have something that is continually combating the high costs of energy use?'”
It isn’t just affordability. Naseth-Phillips said messaging about home energy upgrades often doesn’t reach underserved communities. The department hopes the meetings are informative as it gathers feedback on how the rebates should be carried out. Officials have said a challenge is creating a robust network of certified contractors trained for specific installations. A list of the hearing sites and times is on the Commerce Department website.
Eric Fowler, senior policy associate for buildings for the group Fresh Energy, said heat pumps are some of the more “glitzy” items getting attention these days. However, he cited other rebate opportunities that might not be as glamorous but still get the job done.
“These rebates can also help with insulation and air sealing,” he said, “which are, depending on the state of your home, might be actually more important than a solar panel.”
He said there will be opportunities to offset the cost of upgrading a home’s electrical box and installing thicker wires to accommodate the increased use of clean energy sources.
The first hearing, next Wednesday, is in Minneapolis. The remaining events are spread out across the state, including St. Cloud, Bemidji, Fergus Falls, and Duluth. A hearing in Mankato was scrapped and hasn’t yet been rescheduled.
Mike Moen writes for the Minnesota News Connection.