Two stalled energy efficiency programs may be getting a new lease on life.

The state is awaiting federal approval to launch two home weatherization improvement programs that would benefit more than 20,000 homeowners.

The two programs are funded with more than $250 million from the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

The state Department of Environmental Protection rolled out a website with the expectation that one program would be up and running by now and the other underway this winter.

However, without federal approval, the proposals were stalled until August when the state hired a vendor to begin rolling out one energy efficiency program, and just last week, the Department of Environmental Protection awarded a contract for a vendor to administer the second one.

Resource Innovations Inc. of Chicago will administer the Home Efficiency Rebate program, while EGIS BLN, an Indianapolis, Ind., firm, will manage the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate program.

Nearly every state applied for funding to set up these types of programs, but only a dozen states have gotten permission to begin offering them.

The electrification and appliance rebate program was allocated $129 million by the federal government and state officials expect the program will help between 12,000-16,000 Pennsylvania residents, DEP spokeswoman Robyn Briggs told CapitolWire/State Affairs.

The rebates offered through this program would cover 100% of the cost of heat pumps and electric stoves and ovens for families whose income is below 80% of the area’s median income. The program would cover rebates worth 50% of the cost of energy-efficient appliances for those whose income is between 81% to 150% of the area’s median income.

Once the agency gets the green light from the federal government, the agency will have a “soft launch” of the rebate program, Briggs said.

A second program, the Home Efficiency Rebates program, is designed to encourage energy efficiency measures in low-income mutli-family dwellings with a goal of reducing energy consumption by 20% and offering higher rebates if the work aims to achieve 35% energy savings.

To qualify for the home efficiency rebates, at least 50% of the tenants living in a property must meet the same income qualifications used for the program focused on individual homes.

If repairs or other improvements are made using the rebates, the landlord must agree not to raise rents for two years.

The home efficiency rebate program was also allocated $129 million.

Briggs said state officials expect up to 12,000 residents to benefit from the multi-family building rebate program.