More than $67 million in Virginia climate-program funding that had been held back is being steered into home repair and efficiency work around the state.
Among the clearest effects are critical repairs at more than 1,000 homes that could ultimately help cut utility costs.
Here's what to know
Per WDBJ, the state is releasing more than $67 million in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative funds that the Youngkin administration had withheld. Gov. Abigail Spanberger said $15 million of that total is earmarked for Virginia's Weatherization Deferral Repair program, while the remaining $52 million will go to the state's Affordable and Special Needs Housing program.
More than 1,000 homes are expected to benefit from repair funding aimed at issues that often prevent efficiency upgrades from moving forward, including leaking roofs, structural damage, electrical problems, plumbing defects, and mold- or moisture-related deterioration.
Weatherization is one path to lower bills, but going solar is also one of the best ways for homeowners to save money on home energy. Virginians interested in that option can use EnergySage to get free solar installation estimates and compare quotes.
More background
Virginia's Department of Housing and Community Development manages both the Weatherization Deferral Repair program and the federal Weatherization Assistance Program through a statewide network of 15 providers.
The repair program is designed to get homes "weatherization-ready," allowing them to qualify for federally supported efficiency improvements.
After those barriers are addressed, households can move on to Weatherization Assistance Program upgrades such as insulation, air sealing, efficient lighting, and carbon monoxide alarms. In older or damaged homes, those improvements can make indoor conditions safer while also lowering monthly energy costs.
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The other $52 million in released RGGI funding will go to the Affordable and Special Needs Housing program, which applies stronger energy-efficiency standards to affordable-housing construction, rehabilitation, and adaptive-reuse projects.
Her office also said that when Virginia rejoined RGGI, the governor and General Assembly established bill credits to offset RGGI costs for households and small businesses.
What's being done?
State officials said Virginia could see hundreds of millions of dollars in RGGI investments, with communities continuing to receive those proceeds without additional cost. That could widen the reach of home repairs and energy-efficiency requirements in affordable housing.
For homeowners looking beyond weatherization, solar can be another powerful way to rein in electricity costs. With EnergySage's help, the average person can save up to $10,000 on solar purchases and installations. EnergySage's solar map shows the average cost of a home solar panel system on a state-by-state level, along with solar incentives for each state, and together these tools can help homeowners get the best price for rooftop solar panels and access available incentives.
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Adding battery storage to a solar setup is also one of the best ways to protect your home during outages, save money on energy, and go off-grid. Homeowners can explore EnergySage for information about home battery storage options, including competitive installation estimates.
Spanberger called the funding release a practical investment for households across the commonwealth. "Investing in energy efficiency is one of the most effective and impactful ways to lower monthly energy costs for Virginians," she said.
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