Colorado, Michigan launch IRA rebates, bringing active total to nine states

Colorado and Michigan this week launched their Home Energy Rebates programs under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), joining seven other states with live programs. 

Background: The IRA allocated nearly $9 billion to reimburse homeowners who make energy-efficient HVAC upgrades, also designed to benefit contractors. Catch up

What’s happening: In just the past two months, the number of states with active programs has grown from two to nine, including Colorado and Michigan. 

• Zoom in: 11 states have received approval from the Department of Energy but haven’t launched yet, and eight others have submitted applications that await approval.

• The remaining states, less South Dakota, which won’t be participating, are preparing applications. 

• State-by-state breakdown

Of note: The programs have seen early success. New York, for example, saw a 30% uptick in homeowner rebate applications within the first two months of launching. 

What to watch for: The upcoming Presidential election — a coin flip just four days away — could impact the programs’ future. If former President Trump wins and attempts to roll back the IRA, as he’s mentioned, states that haven’t applied might lose their allocated funds, jeopardizing their chances to launch programs.