Community-based organizations: Key players in shaping home energy rebates

The Inflation Reduction Act allocated nearly $9 billion to two programs aimed at helping homeowners and tenants make their homes more energy-efficient and save on energy costs while spurring contractor engagement and training, especially in pollution-burdened low-income communities. While State Energy OFfices will lead the program, there are numerous opportunities for community-based organizations (CBOs) and environmental justice (EJ) organizations to be involved in and shape the design and implementation of these programs. This resource is intended to help CBOs and EJ organizations understand how and when to leverage these opportunities. In the document:

• We outline the order of operations and required process necessary for designing and ultimately launching Home Energy Rebate programs.
• We offer program design suggestions that CBOs and EJ organizations can consider advocating for when providing feedback on the design and implementation of the Home Energy Rebate programs.
• We offer recommendations for ways that CBOs and EJ organizations can advocate for supplemental policies and programs that can enhance the impact of the Home Energy Rebates.
• We list other helpful resources for CBOs and EJ organizations to consider