Senator Coons, colleagues introduce bipartisan legislation to streamline distribution of cost-saving energy initiative funding

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced the Investing in State Energy Act, which will ensure grant funding from the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program (SEP) are distributed without delay to state agencies and local partners that implement these cost-saving energy initiates from both programs.

This bipartisan bill comes as the U.S. Department of Energy continuing to delay the distribution of more than $400 million in grant funding from both WAP and SEP even as energy costs rise.

"Delawareans are struggling under the weight of rising energy bills," said Senator Coons. "President Trump's war in Iran has only made energy more expensive. This bipartisan legislation will give Delawareans - and Americans across the country - relief from spiraling costs."

"Right now, the cost of everything is up, and energy prices are no exception. It's critical that federal funding from these two programs be distributed quickly so that families can make energy efficiency upgrades to lower their utility bills and states can invest in efforts that make energy more reliable and affordable," said Senator Shaheen. "Our bipartisan legislation would ensure that the Department of Energy is making this funding available in a timely manner, delivering much-needed certainty to states and localities and financial relief to American households."

"The Weatherization Assistance Program and the State Energy Program are proven, cost-effective ways to permanently reduce energy usage and lower home energy bills for low-income Mainers," said Senator Collins. "By preventing unnecessary delays in the distribution of these funds, this bipartisan bill would give states the certainty they need to plan effectively and help more families affordably weatherize and heat their homes."

"The Trump Administration is driving up energy prices and throttling back federal aid. These bipartisan programs provide real relief and have a proven track record of success. The Investing in State Energy Act would put a stop to needless delay and get this critical funding out the door to help all fifty states lower energy costs," said Senator Reed.

"Donald Trump has made the cost of energy skyrocket and American families and businesses are paying the price," said Senator Padilla. "These two programs are essential, cost-effective ways to conserve energy and advance clean energy practices. Our bill would ensure the Department of Energy is making funding available to lower utility bills, conserve energy, and provide much needed financial relief to Americans across the nation."

The Investing in State Energy Act would:

• Direct DOE to provide application guidance for WAP and SEP programs
• Publish expected WAP and SEP allocations to states within 60 days of enactment
• Distribute funding to states and other recipients within 30 days of receiving a completed plan
• Require the publication of expected WAP and SEP awards
• Ensure states, tribes, and other entities have the information they need to effectively plan for expected funding

For more than 40 years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program (SEP) have provided technical and financial assistance to states, tribal governments, and U.S. territories to encourage the adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency practices and technologies. WAP enables income-eligible families, older adults, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, freeing up limited resources for other essentials like food and medicine. SEP provides cost-shared resources directly to the states for allocations by the governor-designated State Energy Office to support energy projects, such as energy emergency planning and response, private sector innovation in clean energy and state-driven energy infrastructure modernization. Encouraging local high-impact projects through the Investing in State Energy Act will serve families in need and continue to push greater efficiency in energy use to meet state goals.

Senator Coons has long been an advocate for lowering energy costs through the Weatherization Assistance Program. Last August, he introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reauthorize WAP through 2030 and increase funding limits to help more families upgrade their homes, and led the last successful reauthorization effort in 2020. He also introduced the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act, which would increase funding for the program and also create a Weatherization Readiness Fund to repair structural issues and prepare homes for weatherization assistance. He has also secured increased funding for WAP through the appropriations process and as part of the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill.

The Investing in State Energy Act is endorsed by the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), the Building Performance Association (BPA) and the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP).

"They continue to show leadership on energy policy. The 56 State and Territory Energy Offices utilize U.S. State Energy Program (SEP) funds provided by Congress to help accelerate their governors' policy actions aimed at addressing rising electricity costs and bringing more power on the grid. The Investing in State Energy Act would direct the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to move far more rapidly delivering SEP and WAP formula funds to states. Over the past several years, the delays in DOE moving bipartisan appropriated SEP and WAP funds to the states have more than doubled - forestalling energy cost savings and economic benefits to consumers and businesses in every state. We fully support the bipartisan Investing in State Energy Act and efforts to bring a greater sense of urgency on this important issue," said David Terry, President of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO).

"The Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program are critical to energy affordability, reliability and security," said Steve Skodak, CEO of the Building Performance Association (BPA). "BPA member contractors perform home upgrades for WAP projects across the country, lowering energy bills and improving home health, safety, and comfort. Ensuring the prompt delivery of these funds through the Investing in State Energy Act will benefit both low-income American households and the home performance contractors who serve them."

Full text of the bill is available here.