A bipartisan group of senators is making another push to ensure the Department of Energy promptly distributes funding for key energy assistance programs, arguing delays have reached their worst level yet.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), chair of the Appropriations Committee, plan to announce the Investing in State Energy Act on Friday. The lawmakers have introduced versions of the legislation every Congress since 2017.
The bill would require DOE to distribute grant funding from the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program (SEP) within specified time frames. States and local partners use the funding to implement energy-efficiency projects aimed at lowering energy costs and improving reliability.
“It’s critical that federal funding from these two programs be distributed quickly so that families can make energy efficiency upgrades to lower their utility bills and states can invest in efforts that make energy more reliable and affordable,” Shaheen said.
