Gov. DeSantis Approves State Commitment for $346M in Federal Energy Efficiency Funding with His Signature

By Better Today On Jun 12, 2024

TL/DR –

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has approved $346 million in federal funding for energy efficiency improvement initiatives that will reduce energy costs for Floridians. The funding was part of the Rewiring America program under President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and the Investment in Jobs Act. The funds will facilitate home upgrades for improved energy efficiency, lower electricity bills, and generate jobs in construction and related sectors.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has approved $346 million in federal funding for energy efficiency improvements, a move expected to significantly aid Floridians grappling with rising utility bills. This decision was made as part of the state’s $116.5 billion budget for 2024-25.

The funding comes from the federal government’s Rewiring America program under President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and the Investment in Jobs Act. However, it was only made available after DeSantis overturned his decision to veto $30 million in energy programs last year that initially made Florida ineligible.

The funds will facilitate home upgrades to enhance energy efficiency, including rebates on the purchase and installation of energy-efficient appliances. The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) and Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) are anticipated to drastically reduce energy costs for numerous Floridians.

President of Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, Aimee Skrzekut, hailed the decision, stating that it will offer “immediate relief” and help establish a more resilient energy infrastructure for Florida’s future.

Efforts to lower energy expenses are also forecasted to accelerate job creation by making improvement projects more accessible, particularly in construction, infrastructure, and related industries.

In addition to this, the funding will also cover weatherization programs that enhance home energy performance by keeping the hot Florida air outside, leading to further savings.

Executive Director for Conservatives for Clean Energy-Florida, Zachary Colletti, expressed his support for the initiative, underscoring the Governor’s commitment to helping Floridians cut their electricity bills.

Earlier this year, DeSantis vetoed nearly $1 billion from the proposed budget. The approved budget will come into effect on July 1.