Senator Collins Joins Bipartisan Group in Introducing Bill to Avert Delays in Federal Resources to State Energy Assistance Programs
Washington, D.C. –U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced bipartisan legislation to encourage state-driven energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives that reduce energy costs for low-income households, spur private sector energy innovation, and improve emergency planning and response. The Investing in State Energy Act would prevent undue delay in distributing grants through the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and the State Energy Program (SEP) to state agencies and local partners that implement energy initiatives.
Just last month, Senator Collins joined Senators Shaheen, Coons, Reed, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) in sending a bipartisan letter to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry regarding delayed guidance and documentation for the WAP. Their letter was in response to the Department of Energy (DOE) missing an important deadline to deliver information concerning state allocations to WAP grantees. Following the Senators’ efforts, this guidance was later released to allow states to plan for the upcoming year.
“Access to affordable home energy during the cold winter months is a matter of health and safety for many low-income households—particularly for children and seniors—in Maine and across the country. The Weatherization Assistance Program and the State Energy Program are cost-effective ways to reduce energy usage and cut low-income homeowners’ energy bills permanently,” said Senator Susan Collins. “Our bipartisan bill would ensure that this important funding is distributed promptly to state agencies and local partners that implement these programs.”
For more than 40 years, the DOE assistance programs, WAP and 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.
The Weatherization Assistance Program enables families, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, freeing up limited resources for other essentials like food and medicine. The State Energy Program 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.
The Investing in State Energy Act would direct DOE to distribute the full annual award amount of WAP and SEP funds to states, tribes and other direct grantees no later than 60 days after funds are appropriated by Congress. By establishing these mandatory deadlines, the Investing in State Energy Act encourages local high-impact projects that serve families in need and ensures that states continue to receive critical resources to meet their energy goals.
The text of the Investing in State Energy Act can be read HERE. The bill is supported by a number of organizations, including the National Association of State Energy Officials, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the National Consumer Law Center on behalf of its low-income consumers, and the National Community Action Foundation. A full list of supporters can be found HERE.
