House Energy & Commerce Committee Unanimously Advances Bipartisan Weatherization Reauthorization Legislation

The bill would extend authorization of the Weatherization Assistance Program through 2030, reducing energy bills and supporting contractor jobs

Today, the full House Energy & Commerce Committee unanimously advanced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) through 2030 in a 50-0 vote. The legislation would also nearly double the statutory Average Cost Per Unit (ACPU) allowed under the program from $6,500 to $12,000 to keep pace with rising wage and equipment costs. 

At today’s markup, Energy & Commerce Committee Energy Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-Ohio-05) said,

“The Weatherization Assistance Program plays an important role in increasing energy efficiency in low income homes. This saves families money, reduces strain on our nation’s grid, and helps keep existing homes in the housing market. I’m pleased we were able to reach bipartisan agreement.”

E&C Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.-02) added:

“This is an important program, and I’m glad we’ve all worked hard [on a compromise]… We have a rich history of working together when we can find common ground, and thanks for doing that.”

The compromise bill would ensure the Department of Energy remains statutorily required to continue to operate WAP. The program’s statutory authorization was last extended by President Trump in the bipartisan Energy Act of 2020, but authorization recently expired at the end of this past Fiscal Year. Today’s vote advances reauthorization legislation out of the Energy & Commerce Committee; to advance further, the bill will need to pass the full House of Representatives.   

Bill sponsor Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.-20) noted that increasing WAP’s ACPU will:

“benefit the long-term health of this program. Inflation has eroded the potential effectiveness of weatherization services. This change will ensure households can still receive adequate services from crews that are fairly and competitively compensated.”

Though the E&C compromise agreement did not authorize the Weatherization Readiness Fund, Chairman Guthrie called WAP readiness “important,” and Rep. Tonko added that he remains “committed to continuing to push for future adjustments to the program moving forward,” including future authorization of the readiness fund.

Unfortunately, the markup also advanced H.R. 4758, the Homeowner Energy Freedom Act (Rep. Goldman, R-TX-12) out of the full committee, as well. This legislation would repeal state-based programs to train residential energy contractors, state and local building energy code grants, and voluntary electrification and insulation rebates for American households. These provisions aim to make housing more affordable, protect low- and moderate-income residents from rising utility costs, and support local contractor jobs across the country. If enacted, the legislation would do real damage to key state efficiency programs vital to American families and small business contractors—including the Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) program and the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) Program.

BPA will continue our advocacy in support of these important energy efficiency programs. Stay connected with us as we continue our advocacy to advance energy efficiency, support contractors, grow our workforce, and improve energy affordability. Join BPA’s Action List to protect energy efficiency programs and incentives here.