City staff updated the sustainability meeting on state-administered energy-efficiency rebate programs that were allocated federal funding and will be delivered by the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO).

Staff said there are two principal programs: a whole-home retrofit rebate that provides higher awards for low- and moderate-income (LMI) households and a home electrification rebate (HEAR) program. Rebate amounts are determined by modeled or measured energy savings; staff described examples such as higher payments for projects achieving greater than 35% energy savings and doubled rebate levels for LMI households.

Staff explained that states were allocated these funds under federal law and that Texas’s plan was approved in December, but release of funds and program launch has been delayed by a federal funding freeze. Staff said the city is monitoring developments and that some funding releases to other states have begun; the state program team hoped to begin applications this summer if funding becomes available.

Board members asked whether the funding is federal money flowing through the state and whether municipalities are lobbying for release; staff confirmed the funds are federal allocations administered by the state and said several states are actively urging release of funds. Staff also noted that the appliance rebate stream is intended to operate at point of sale to reduce upfront costs for homeowners.

No formal action was taken; the item was an informational update and the board asked staff to continue monitoring funding availability and potential ways the city could support state-level requests for release of funds.