According to an article in the Dallas Morning News, Texas will receive $546 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus package to make homes and buildings more energy-efficient. Of that amount, $327 million will go to help low-income Texans weatherize their homes. Anyone who does not make more than 200% of the federal poverty level would qualify for a $6,500 home weatherization subsidy. The White House also says that the energy efficient section of the stimulus alone will create 87,000 jobs.
The article said:
Aside from money for low-income weatherization, Texas also gets around $219 million for rebates to all consumers on energy audits or upgrades, to promote Energy Star appliances and for efficiency upgrades at government buildings. That program, called the State Energy Program, would also support “development of renewable energy projects for clean electricity generation and alternative fuels.”
With the price of energy going up in Texas despite deregulation, this could be a real money saver for Texans who are struggling financially. Many Texas homeowners, including those facing foreclosure , are paying a large portion of their income to meet their energy needs. Even if a homeowner files bankruptcy, energy costs are a consistent and expensive expense that will be present after bankruptcy and that one simply can’t do without. The government is hoping that the energy efficiency program will help homeowners use less energy and thus depend less on government help to pay their energy bills. If you want to find out more about Texas’ weatherization program call 1-888-606-8889 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, from a land line.