June 6, 2011

The Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program Funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the State of Wisconsin

The Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program (Weatherization Program) received $5 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) to improve the energy efficiency of homes, multi-family rental units and mobile homes owned or occupied by low-income persons. Subsequently, the Department awarded a 3-year Weatherization Program grant for $141.5 million to the State of Wisconsin (Wisconsin). This grant provided an eight-fold increase in funds available to Wisconsin for weatherization compared to the $15 million that was authorized in Fiscal Year (FY) 2009. Wisconsin's Department of Administration, Division of Energy Services, administers the Weatherization Program through 20 local agencies. These agencies are responsible for evaluating the energy efficiency of homes, performing weatherization work, and conducting inspections. Typical weatherization services include installing insulation, sealing ducts, tuning and repairing furnaces, and mitigating heat loss through windows, doors, and other infiltration points. Per Wisconsin State law, local intake agencies in each of the State's 72 counties and 8 tribes process applications for all State and Federal energy assistance. These agencies, for the most part, are independent of the State and local weatherization agencies.

Topic: Financial Assistance