August 2024 State Updates
August 27, 2024
Looking for the latest industry updates in your state and across the nation? Here are our newest and noteworthy updates from August 2024.
Click here to find your state and see the latest updates, projects, federal funding information, and events.
BPA State Updates
Arizona – BPA hosted a webinar on August 20, 2024, providing updates on the latest news with Home Energy Rebates for Arizona-based contractors in the energy efficiency industry. Watch the recording and download the slide deck for a recap.
New Mexico – BPA will soon submit a proposal to administer New Mexico’s TREC grant and is interested in partnerships with training facilities. If you are interested, please reach out to Robin Yochum, Director of Programs and Partnerships, at ryochum@building-performance.org.
Pennsylvania – Save the date for Friday, September 13 at 8am ET for BPA’s next PA Contractor Meeting. Be on the lookout for an invite with registration information.
State Industry News
California – Last month, CalCERTS announced it would cease operating as a HERS provider. Consultants, contractors, and raters were given until August 2, 2024, to finish projects in the CalCERTS registry, and that registry will be removed from public access on September 2, 2024.
This means that CHEERS will now be the only HERS Provider. Any new projects will need to be started and completed in CHEERS, and projects that were started in CalCERTS will need to be transferred or restarted in CHEERS.
Contractors and consultants will need to register for a free account at www.cheers.org and become familiar with the data entry process for the Certificate of Compliance (CF1R) and Certificate of Installation (CF2R) forms. Raters currently certified by CalCERTS and in good standing will be able to complete a process to become cross-certified with CHEERS at no cost and without additional training.
Check the CEC (California Energy Commission) for updates about this transition.
Florida – The Florida Office of Energy submitted its HEAR application to DOE on August 13, 2024. The state has yet to submit its HOMES application. Florida will receive $172M for HEAR and $173M for HOMES. The Office of Energy’s projected timeline anticipates a program soft launch for Fall 2024. Check the Office of Energy’s website for updates.
Maine – On July 30, 2024, The Maine Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) announced $2 million in grant awards to expand or establish six clean energy workforce training programs in Biddeford, Portland, Freeport, Augusta, Orono, and Oxford Hills. Read the announcement.
Massachusetts – Roxbury Community College and Everblue are hosting a 4-week BPI Building Analyst Pre-Apprenticeship training program in Boston from Sept. 30 to Oct. 25. Funded by a MA Green Jobs Grant, participants can receive free training and certification up to the BPI Building Analyst Professional level. This program features a mix of online and classroom instruction, hands-on equipment training, and professional development opportunities such as resume writing and interview preparation. Roxbury and Everblue are currently seeking candidates for the program, as well as employer partners interested in hiring graduates. For more information, contact Kat James, Roxbury Assistant Director of the Center for Smart Building Technology, by phone at (857) 701-1541 or by email at kjames1@rcc.mass.edu.
New Mexico – The New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department’s Energy Conservation and Management Division (ECMD) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Training for Residential Energy Contractors Program (TREC). ECMD is seeking organizations that can provide training to the contractor workforce in New Mexico, while ensuring that the goals of the New Mexico Home Energy Rebate program are met. As mentioned above, BPA plans to submit a proposal and is looking for training facilities to partner with. Contact Robin Yochum if interested in partnering with us, and download the RFP for more information.
Written questions are due by 3pm MST on August 30, 2024, and should be emailed to margarita.guarin@emnrd.nm.gov. Proposals are due by 3pm MST on September 6, 2024, in PDF format to margarita.guarin@emnrd.nm.gov.
New York – NYSERDA’s On-The-Job Training for Energy Efficiency and Clean Technology program will provide wage subsidies to eligible businesses to help reduce the financial risk of hiring and training new workers. NYSERDA is working closely with the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) to deliver the OJT program and help develop job skills for new workers in energy efficiency and clean technology businesses. The NYSDOL assists participating businesses with developing OJT training plans as well as assessing necessary skills and identifying available workers that match those skills. The primary purpose of OJT funding is to train new hires for clean energy work. Learn more and access the application.
Puerto Rico – The Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DEDC) has released an RFP for Program Management services for their HOMES and HEAR Early Administrative Funds. Proposals are due by September 18, 2024, 3pm AST. Download the RFP for more information.
Wisconsin – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on August 2, 2024, that Wisconsin has launched its first Home Energy Rebates program, supported by the Inflation Reduction Act. Read the announcement.
Next Month’s Events
Energy efficiency contractors are welcome to join the Building Performance Association (BPA) and the AnnDyl Policy Group for a webinar September 12, 2024 at 3pm EST. We will discuss braiding federal energy efficiency incentives like the Weatherization Assistance Program, the newly extended 25C tax credit, and utility programs with the wide range of currently available programs across the country. Learn more and register.
Conference: Resilience and Equity in the Clean Energy Sector Summit (RECESS24)
BPA is excited to be an exhibitor at RECESS24, a conference by Walker-Miller Energy Services. Join us in Detroit, MI, September 9–11, 2024. This conference will help advance equity for Black and Brown people by creating an on ramp into the rapidly transitioning clean energy economy, showcasing experts, ideas, technologies, and connections to help drive the benefits of participation to those who have been historically excluded. Learn more and register.