Our Recent Work
Our Recent Work
New Report: Building a Sustainable Residential Infrastructure
Homes are an important part of our nation’s energy and physical infrastructure with a unique connection to the lives of Americans. Residential buildings also remain a largely untapped resource for carbon reductions. Research shows that retrofitting all U.S. homes constructed before 2000 would reduce emissions by 242 million tons per year and save $66 billion on energy bills, while creating over one million full-time jobs for ten years.
Read the latest BPA report that addresses opportunities, challenges, and policy strategies to drive residential energy efficiency and decarbonization through advanced technologies and approaches.
HOPE for HOMES included in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
The historic bill includes $9B in whole house energy efficiency and electrification rebates including $200 million in retrofit job training — legislation that will help Americans with their energy bills while creating green jobs. Updates will be posted here.
Industry Comes Together to Support Weatherization Readiness
BPA and industry partner E4TheFuture collected 950+ signatures in support of the Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act. The legislation would save low-income families hundreds of dollars on their energy bills while making homes safer, healthier, and more energy efficient. Read more.
The Latest State Policy Updates
Highlights include happenings in Maryland, Connecticut, Oregon, Maine, and Pennsylvania. Check out all the latest state policy updates here.
Omnibus Appropriations Package
On March 9, the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) omnibus appropriations package, containing all 12 appropriations measures, was filed in the U.S. House of Representatives. The finalized omnibus bill provides increases in funding for key departments and offices, raising funding for the Department of Energy (DOE) to $44.9 billion, an effective increase of $2.9 billion or 6.9% over FY21 enacted levels. Read more.
HOPE for HOMES and Blue Collar and Green Collar Jobs Development Act
the HOPE for HOMES Act and Blue Collar and Green Collar Jobs Development Act currently hang in the balance and need your support to pass Congress and advance to President Biden’s desk. The deadline to sign on in support has passed. Updates will be posted here.
The Latest State Policy Updates
Highlights include happenings in Maryland, New Jersey, Maine, Illinois, and Connecticut. Check out all the latest state policy updates here.
The Latest State Policy Updates - November 2021
Highlights include happenings in Maryland, New Jersey, Maine, Illinois, and Connecticut. Check out all the latest state policy updates here.
The Latest State Policy Updates - October 2021
Key highlights: In Illinois, the Governor signed into law the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. In Oregon, new building codes will be enforced which increase energy efficiency standards for commercial and residential new construction. In Pennsylvania, Governor Wolf announced the Pennsylvania Climate Action Plan 2021. In Connecticut, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will open applications on October 1 to operate the Statewide Weatherization Barrier Remediation Program. Check out the latest state policy updates here.
Webinar - Setting the Stage for Success: An outlook on legislation that could transform your business and the industry
Thursday, Sept 16, 2021, at 12 PM ET: Join BPA’s VP of Government Affairs, Policy and Programs, Kara Saul Rinaldi, at this webinar designed to explore the current state of Bipartisan Infrastructure Legislation, Budget Reconciliation, and FY22 Appropriations – and the difference between these funding bills. This high-level presentation will set the stage for what could be a once-in-a-generation federal investment in residential energy efficiency.
The Latest State Policy Updates - September 2021
Key highlights include updates in New Jersey, Ohio, and Washington DC. In addition, states across the country are deciding how to use $195 billion in federal relief funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) that was signed into law by President Biden in March. Check out the latest state policy updates here.
The Latest State Policy Updates - August 2021
Key highlights in August include happenings in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Maryland, Oregon, and more. Check out the latest state policy updates here.
Congress is Taking Action on HOPE for HOMES this Week
The Senate is finalizing their bipartisan infrastructure package as we speak - help us get HOPE for HOMES included! Contact your Senator TODAY and tell them to include HOPE for HOMES in the infrastructure package, support full-funding in reconciliation and sign your company/org onto the support letter and sign on to our grassroots letter.
The Latest State Policy Updates - July 2021
Highlighting updates in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Colorado, Connecticut, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, West Virginia, and The District of Columbia.
The Latest State Policy Updates - June 2021
Highlighting updates in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Colorado, Connecticut, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, West Virginia, and The District of Columbia.
President Biden Signals Support for HOPE for HOMES
HOPE for HOMES was included in President Biden’s budget request for FY22, noting a desire to see funding over the next 5-10 years. In the 10 year scenario, there is a request for $10B for HOPE training and $34.4B for HOMES grants over that time period. This support by the President is a critical step in our efforts to see training and retrofit incentives enacted. Read more here.
HOPE for HOMES Re-Introduced
Hope for Homes was re-introduced on Thursday, May 20, 2021, in the House and Senate. The bill has bipartisan support and offers multiple approaches to help upgrade homes and multifamily buildings while offering support for contractor training and incentives for energy efficiency upgrades. Read more here.
The Latest State Policy Updates - April 2021
Highlighting updates in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Colorado, Connecticut, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, West Virginia, and The District of Columbia.
The Latest State Policy Updates - March 2021
Highlighting updates in Pennsylvania, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Colorado, Connecticut, Ohio, Oregon, Virginia, and West Virginia.
BPA Submits Comments on Pennsylvania Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) Regulations
BPA supports RGGI because other states that have joined have increased energy efficiency jobs while keeping electricity costs low. Read the full blog here.
Post Election Outlook Webinar by BPA Policy Team
Join BPA's Vice President of Government Affairs, Policy, and Programs, Kara Saul-Rinaldi, as she presents on the results of the 2020 Federal Election and its impact on the residential retrofit industry. Kara’s analysis will include expectations for how a President Trump/Biden will work with the 117th Congress, the layout of the Senate and House, and what BPA sees as opportunities for our members in 2021. This live webinar was hosted Wednesday, November 18 at 12:30 p.m. ET. The playback is available here.
BPA Is On the Lookout For State Policy Shifts and Potential Opportunities on Election Day
While so much attention is focused on the Presidential and Congressional races, BPA has also been monitoring state elections – because so many policies and programs that impact the energy efficiency industry are designed and implemented at the state level.
COVID Challenges at the State Level & BPA's Response
BPA has been keeping its focus on getting contractors back to work safely and making sure that energy efficiency programs remain fully funded and prepared for the COVID challenges ahead. Current efforts focus on three main areas: Health & Safety, Supporting State EE Programs and Monitoring Ongoing State Public Utilities Proceedings.
Summer Heats Up Building Performance Legislation
The past few weeks have been an exciting time for building performance legislation in Congress. Read the latest on HOPE for HOMES, Blue Collar to Green Collar Jobs Act, Weatherization Assistance Program funding, and homeowner tax credits.
New Congressional Climate Report Includes BPA’s Top Policy Priorities
The House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released its climate action plan, a 500-page report that provides a roadmap for Congress to address the climate crisis and build a prosperous clean energy economy. The report clearly establishes the critical role of advancing energy efficiency in the building sector to combat climate change.
HOPE for HOMES - Sign-On in Support
We are proud to announce the introduction of HOPE for HOMES Act of 2020 - (H.R. 7325, S.4052) that includes immediate relief and long-term support for the residential energy efficiency contractor industry negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill was introduced with bipartisan support in the House and Senate on Wednesday, June 24, 2020.
BPA's Strategy to Keep Energy Efficiency Workers Employed
Read more about the targeted and long-term strategy to keep workers employed throughout and after the COVID19 pandemic.
BPA Fighting for Energy Efficiency Programs During and Post Pandemic
BPA has been working on petitions that will allow contractors and small businesses to provide energy efficiency services and take part in training while on-site work opportunities are limited due to COVID-19.
HOPE for HOMES
BPA has developed a $500 Million concept - the Contractor “Home Online Performance-based Energy-efficiency” (HOPE) Training for immediate support of contractor businesses. We've paired it with our on-going efforts to enact the $6 Billion Home Owner Managing Savings Act (HOMES) to be authorized through 2025 (or until expended) that would advance rebates for homeowners doing energy efficiency retrofits.
Reach out with questions or suggestions!
