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 (HOMES): OER anticipates receiving approximately $32 million for a rebate program. According to the Department of Energy, state energy offices must use at least 80 percent of awarded funds to provide single-family and multifamily households with discounts for efficiency upgrades that are predicted to save at least 20 percent of the home’s energy use. The guidance on the use of funding for administration of the program was released in March 2023. The Department of Energy anticipates a release of rebate guidance in mid-summer 2023.
• High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) Program: OER anticipates receiving approximately $31.8 million for a rebate program. According to the Department of Energy, a state energy office must use at least 80% of awarded funds to provide single-family and multifamily households with discounts for high efficiency home appliances and equipment. The guidance on the use of funding for administration of the program was released in March 2023. The Department of Energy anticipates a release of rebate guidance in mid-summer 2023.

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