Chicago, IL. ----  Rep. Rush pleased that Illinois will receive nearly $344 Million in Weatherization Funding and Energy Efficiency Grants for Illinois

Part of nearly $8 billion in Recovery Act funding for energy efficiency efforts nationwide that will create 100,000 jobs and cut energy bills for families

Washington DC –Today, the White House announced that roughly $344 million will be released to Illinois for weatherization and energy efficiency funding – including $242,526,619 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program and $101,321,000 million for the State Energy Program. 

“As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I have been a longtime staunch supporter of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program because I understand how difficult it is for families, in my district and across the country, to meet the rising costs of home energy,” said Rep. Rush.

“This program is one of the reasons I supported this economic recovery package. Overall, this weatherization funding and energy efficiency program will provide funds for LIHEAP and foster job creation that will benefit our most impoverished Illinois citizens. It will help thousands of low-income families weather the storm, literally and figuratively, in the face of unprecedented economic hardships and massive unemployment,” said Rep. Rush. “It will be released today and that will allow us to help people and create 21st Century jobs.”

This initiative, which is part of a nationwide investment announced today of nearly $8 billion under the President’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – is an investment that will potentially put up to 100,000 Americans to work.

The funding, which will support weatherization of homes, including adding more insulation, sealing leaks and modernizing heating and air conditioning equipment will pay for itself many times over.

The Weatherization Assistance Program will allow an average investment of up to $6,500 per home in energy efficiency upgrades and will be available for families making up to 200% of the federal poverty level – or about $44,000 a year for a family of four.

The State Energy Program funding will be available for rebates to consumers for home energy audits or other energy saving improvements; development of renewable energy projects for clean electricity generation and alternative fuels; promotion of Energy Star products; efficiency upgrades for state and local government buildings; and other innovative state efforts to help families save money on their energy bills.

The DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program allows low-income families to reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient, reducing heating bills by an average of 32% and overall energy bills by hundreds of dollars per year.