Summary of Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act Funding

The Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA), most commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on November 15, 2021. A second bill, The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law on August 6, 2022.

Both laws include many energy-related funding opportunities for Rhode Island. The funding is available through (a) formula grants which are predetermined amounts given to state energy offices; or (b) competitive grants which are not predetermined and are awarded based on the merits of the application.

The RI Office of Energy Resources (OER) is involved in the following opportunities.

IIJA Formula Funding

• State Energy Program (SEP): OER anticipates receiving approximately $3.2 million over a five-year period. To date, the office has received $200,000 for work on updating the State Energy Security Plan.
• Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program: OER anticipates receiving approximately $746,060 over a five-year period. The deadline for OER to apply for funding is May 26, 2023 and we expect the RI Infrastructure Bank to act as program administrator.
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program: OER anticipates receiving approximately $1.6 million. The application period for funding opens on June 1, 2023. In addition to OER’s allocation, there is $1.089 million in direct allocations to 10 municipalities (Coventry, Warwick, Cranston, Cumberland, East Providence, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Woonsocket, and South Kingstown)
• Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid – Section 40101(d): OER anticipates receiving approximately $1.6 million annually over a five-year period. The office filed an application for funding for years one and two in March 2023.
• National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program: OER anticipates receiving approximately $23 million over a five-year period. OER is the lead agency in partnership with the RI Department of Transportation and the RI Department of Environmental Management. You can find out more about RI’s plan at this website.

IIJA Competitive Grants

• Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI) : OER has submitted a $2.5 million proposal for an initiative to expand and centralize Rhode Island’s workforce development plan for building codes officials and related construction trades. The expected date for award notifications is June 2023.
• Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program: OER is collaborating with the RI Department of Transportation on a community program application, which is due May 30, 2023.

IRA Formula Funding

Home Energy Performance-Based, Whole-House Rebate Program (HER f/k/a HOMES) and High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HER f/ka HEEHR) Program

On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed the landmark Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. The law includes $391 billion to support clean energy and address climate change, including $8.8 billion in rebates nationally for home energy efficiency and electrification projects.

The Home Energy Rebate Programs include the Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR). Rhode Island will receive approximately $32 million for the HER program and $31 million for the HEAR program. The goal of these two rebate programs is to increase the energy efficiency in homes thereby decreasing residential energy bills and carbon emissions. The HER program will provide rebates to customers undergoing a home energy improvement that is modeled to reduce their energy use by a minimum of 20%. The HEAR program will provide rebates on home electrification upgrades.  Follow here as OER develops and implements the programs. 

Future Opportunities from IIJA and IRA

• Energy Auditor Training (IIJA)
• Career Skills Training (IIJA)
• State-Based Home Energy Efficiency Contractor Training (IRA): OER anticipates receiving an to be determined formula grant to be used for training in conjunction with the HOMES and HEEHR programs.

For more information about these funding opportunities, please contact Karen Bradbury at Karen.Bradbury@energy.ri.gov