By Mary Goldmeer
Mail | Independent Newsmedia

GateWay Community College, a member of the Maricopa Community Colleges, hosted United States Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk and Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to help unveil the Arizona Home Energy Rebate Program.

The visit included a town hall with local community organizations and a tour of the college’s HVAC facilities. GWCC uses local contractors serving in the field as instructors for its HVAC program that trains in repairing, installing and servicing HVAC-R equipment and systems. Students in the HVAC-R program and earning your competency certificate or an associate degree.

“Sectors like manufacturing, energy, and construction will continue to need a highly-skilled workforce in order to support the economic growth we are witnessing across the state,” said Dr. Steven Gonzales, Maricopa Community Colleges chancellor. “From HVAC technicians to electricians, skilled tradespeople keep our homes, businesses, and cities running. As the largest provider of workforce training in Arizona, we are developing the next generation of skilled workers—who will undoubtedly play a critical role in supporting nearly every facet of our infrastructure.”

The new Arizona Home Energy Rebate Program is part of President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda and is supported by the Inflation Reduction Act. Arizona became the second state to implement the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates component of the federal program.

This initiative aims to assist low- and middle-income households with energy efficiency upgrades, such as heat pumps and insulation.

“Arizonans know more than most the urgency of deploying energy efficient measures, like insulation and upgraded HVAC systems, so households across the state can slash their utility bills without putting people in danger of heat-related health impacts,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Arizona is one of the states leading the nation in building up their local workforce and keeping money in the pockets of their residents, all thanks to the Investing in America agenda.”

Arizona’s HEAR program will initially focus on providing rebates for heat pumps to address extreme heat conditions for low- and moderate-income homeowners. In the fall, the program will expand to offer up to $14,000 in rebates for additional upgrades. The rebates cover various improvements, including ENERGY STAR-certified heat pumps, electrical panels and insulation.

“Home energy rebates for clean and energy-efficient appliances and upgrades are good for the planet because they help cut pollution, but more importantly, they are good for Arizonan families because they will save money by lowering energy bills.” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy.

The program aims to help households save up to $14,000 on energy-efficient upgrades and significantly reduce monthly energy bills.

The initiative also aligns with the Biden administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which directs 40% of climate and clean energy benefits to disadvantaged communities.

The Governor’s Office of Resiliency will administer the rebate programs, which are expected to use nearly $150 million in federal funds to benefit Arizona homes. The Office of Resiliency will also hold workshops to seek public input on the program’s development.