On August 16, 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law by President Biden. It was touted as “an investment in climate solutions,” and is a timely investment indeed. Money that is intended to assist in the fight against climate change and extreme weather is still going through several different federal and state agency programs.
About $70 million is expected to be made available to New Hampshire residents for rebates on purchases of electric stoves heat pumps, and insulation, to give a few examples. New Hampshire’s Dept. of Energy will be responsible for rolling out the funding. The deadline for the agency to submit an application for that program is January 31, 2025.
They are also applying for funding from another program called Solar for All, which is designed to assist low-income families obtain access to solar energy. The deadline for this application is September 26.
In 2009 the state created a climate plan, but it has not been updated since then. There are now plans underway at NH Dept. of Environmental Services (NHDES) to implement some of the Inflation Reduction Act funding to update the plan. An updated plan would be due in March, 2024 with an eye towards funding for climate reduction actions. The NHDES also plans to apply for funding to assist Seacoast communities with adapting to climate change.
Thank you to all in Washington, DC who finally acknowledged the immediate threat of climate change and extreme weather that we have all known about for many decades, for your aggressive and unwavering dedication in getting this Inflation Reduction Act turned into law.
Inflation Reduction Act Guidebook | Clean Energy | The White House