Wisconsin Conservation Voters: Wisconsin is the first state to launch Home Energy Rebate Program

Wisconsin Conservation Voters celebrates clean energy milestone in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE – Wisconsin Conservation Voters, along with state and national partners, celebrated Wisconsin becoming the first state in the nation to launch the Home Efficiency (HOMES) portion of the Home Energy Rebate Program. 

“This is a major victory for clean energy in Wisconsin,” Executive Director Kerry Schumann said. “Wisconsin residents can now access rebates that will reduce the cost of energy-saving home improvement projects by thousands of dollars, such as insulation and heating/cooling equipment.”

Government Affairs Director Jennifer Giegerich served as moderator for the Milwaukee announcement that included a panel with Gov. Tony Evers, Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy John Podesta, and Public Service Commission Chair Summer Strand.

“The launch of this program is a first for the nation,” Giegerich said. “Energy efficiency upgrades are a huge step towards better quality of life for households across Wisconsin and can reduce pollution inside the home, improving health.”

In addition to the newly available Home Efficiency Rebates (HOMES) Program, the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) Program is launching soon. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates the funds from both programs will save households up to $1 billion a year on energy bills and support over 50,000 U.S. jobs.

HOMES will offer rebates for whole-home home energy projects, like upgrading insulation, windows, cooktops, and even getting heat pumps or solar panels. Participants can save anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000 on a project depending on income, whether they live in a single- or multi-family home, and on how much energy they’re predicted to save.

This milestone was reached through the leadership of Gov. Tony Evers, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, and Focus on Energy, whose existing statewide framework positioned Wisconsin to hit the ground running and deliver benefits to households across the state.  

These programs are also made possible with federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law by the Biden-Harris Administration and Congress, which has nearly $400 billion to fund clean energy and address climate change. 

Wisconsin Conservation Voters, along with Forward Together Wisconsin, just completed a robust campaign across Wisconsin to spread the word about benefits available under Pres. Biden’s Affordable Clean Energy Plan. Formed through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Pres. Biden’s Affordable Clean Energy Plan is the largest investment in clean energy in history. People across the country are seeing once-in-a generation investments that will save money, make communities healthier, and create good paying jobs.

Last year, we visited more than 75,000 homes to speak with folks about what’s available to them under the plan – from tax rebates to direct reimbursements on everything from solar panels to electric vehicles. That campaign was so successful, we launched a new phase this year and knocked on more than 250,000 doors. 

This year alone, our team had more than 38,000 conversations about specific incentives, most commonly discussing weatherization projects, home energy assessments, rooftop solar installation, heat pump air conditioners, and heat pump water heaters.