The Electric Explainer: Key programs in the Inflation Reduction Act and what they mean for Americans

The High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act (HEEHRA), includes $4.5 billion in direct rebates for low- and moderate-income households that install new, efficient electric appliances, using a framework proposed in our Appliance Rebate Plan. For instance, a low income household will receive a rebate covering the full cost of a heat pump installation for space heating, up to a cap of $8,000.

This household couldreceive up to $1,750 for a heat pump water heater, $840 for an electric stove, and $840 for an electric clothes dryer. If required, this household can also receive up to $4,000 for an upgraded breaker box, $2,500 for upgraded electrical wiring, and $1,600 for insulation, ventilation and sealing. For moderate income households, the same rebates are available to cover 50 percent of the costs. This will enable roughly one million low- and moderate-income households to go electric. In addition, the Inflation Reduction Act includes $4.5 billion in efficiency and electrification rebates under the Home Energy Performance-Based, Whole-House Rebates.

The Energy Efficient Home Improvement credit, or 25C, allows households to deduct from their taxes up to 30 percent of the cost of upgrades to their homes, including installing heat pumps, insulation and, importantly, upgrading their breaker boxes to accommodate additional electric load. Upgrade costs include both equipment and installation/labor costs. These deductions are limited to $600 per measure, up to $1,200 per household per year—with one notable exception. Households can deduct 30 percent of the costs for buying and installing a heat pump water heater or heat pump for their space heating and cooling, up to $2,000.

The New Energy Efficient Home credit, or 45L, has received a substantial boost, providing up to $5,000 to developers to build homes that qualify for the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Homes standard. This applies to new single family, multifamily and manufactured homes, as well as existing homes that undergo a deep retrofit.

The Commercial Buildings Energy Efficient credit, or 179D, has been significantly expanded, offering $2.50 to $5.00 per square foot for businesses achieving 25 to 50 percent reductions in energy use over existing building performance standards.

In addition, $30 billion is available as a production tax credit to accelerate U.S. manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and critical minerals processing in the U.S., and another $10 billion is allocated as an investment tax credit for building new facilities that manufacture these technologies.

The Enhanced Use of the Defense Production Act includes $500 million to bolster the domestic manufacturing of heat pumps and the processing of critical minerals. This is in line with what we called for in our Electrify for Peace policy plan.

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund provides $27 billion in funding, of which $15 billion will enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to benefit from zero emission technologies and other greenhouse gas pollution reductions. This follows recommendations we made in our report on using these dollars to Rewire Communities. The Methane Fee would impose a fee for emitters of up to $1,500 per ton of this potent greenhouse gas in 2026.

The Clean Vehicle credit, or 30D, gives a $7,500 credit for new electric vehicles and a $4,000 credit for used electric vehicles. This will help everyday Americans afford to get an EV and start saving money every month. Operating an EV costs $1/gallon, which is way more affordable than an internal combustion engine car. This incentive will make clean cars the default and affordable choice for everyday Americans.

The Residential Clean Energy credit, or 25D, re-ups an existing program allowing households installing solar to deduct 30 percent of the cost of the project from their taxes. This credit is guaranteed for 10 years, and now also includes residential battery storage systems.

The Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants program is funded at $3 billion and enables disadvantaged communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate risks from extreme heat, improve climate resiliency and reduce indoor air pollution.

The Improving Energy Efficiency and Water Efficiency or Climate Resilience in Affordable Housing (formerly known as the GREAHT Act) includes $1 billion in grants and loans for retrofit projects that advance building electrification, improve energy and water efficiency, and more in affordable housing.

The Tribal Electrification Program will provide $145 million to help tribal communities transition to clean, zero-emission, electric energy systems.

The Zero Building Energy Code Adoption provision invests $1 billion to ensure that more Americans are able to live and work in zero-emission buildings that meet the highest standards for energy efficiency, which will minimize energy bills, and improve health and safety.

The Funding for Department of Energy Loan Programs Office (LPO) provision will provide LPO $3.6 billion to guarantee loans up to $40 billion in principal amounts. These investments will spur the deployment and adoption of innovative clean energy technologies.