COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Department of Energy's Home Energy Rebate Programs are set to provide significant financial assistance to homeowners across the United States for energy-efficient home improvements.
Ohio has been allocated $240 million from the $9 billion federal initiative to implement these programs.
According to a spokesperson from the Ohio Department of Development, the state has already submitted its application to the U.S. Department of Energy in November and is currently awaiting federal approval.
"We've done all we can do to launch the program, and we're hopeful that it will be soon—but I don't have a clear timeline on when it will be open," the spokesperson stated.
The programs include the Home Energy Performance-Based, Whole-House Rebates (HOME Rebates) and the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program.
The HOME Rebates program offers rebates ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 for individual households and up to $400,000 for multifamily buildings, based on energy savings. The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program provides rebates for various energy-efficient appliances and improvements, with a maximum cap of $14,000 per household.
While all Ohioans will be eligible to apply for the HOME Rebates program, the grants will be based on the applicant's Area Median Income (AMI) percentage.
"People over 80% AMI, for example, will have a cost-share component with their funding,” according to the Ohio Department of Development spokesperson.