skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The death toll from Hurricane Helene tops 200 as search and rescue efforts continue in North Carolina, community health centers in Florida struggle to serve patients as storm recovery strains resources, a new program offers Ohio residents relief from medical debt and voter advocacy groups say poor maintenance has led to inaccurate voter rolls in Indiana.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Biden voices concerns over Israeli strikes on Iran, Special Counsel Jack Smith detailed Trump's pre-January 6th pressure on Pence, Indiana's voter registration draws scrutiny and a poll shows politics too hot to talk about for half of Wisconsinites.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Cheap milk comes at a cost for residents of Washington's Lower Yakima Valley, Indigenous language learning is promoted in Wisconsin as experts warn half the world's languages face extinction, and Montana's public lands are going to the dogs!

Driving Ohio's energy-efficiency plans with IRA support

play audio
Play

Monday, August 19, 2024   

This past Friday marked the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, a milestone for Ohioans looking to make their buildings and homes more energy efficient.

Tax credits in the IRA have provided crucial financial incentives, and some Ohioans - both homeowners and businesses - have been taking advantage of them.

But Marcus Hazelwood, director of building optimization with EA Energy Solutions, said not everyone is aware of how tax deductions can offset the initial cost of energy-efficient upgrades - so it's important to keep getting the word out, especially to business owners.

"Helping them understand that with their existing infrastructure, the opportunity to see how a source of funding and capital to improve their buildings - which in the long term reduces their operational costs," said Hazelwood, "this is kind of supporting the initial up-front capital needed."

Ohio's new energy code simplifies qualifying for IRA deductions, which backers say also promote economic growth by supporting well-paid local jobs.

But critics of the IRA have said its cost is too high and that it doesn't do enough to lower the cost of energy-efficient products and services.

Ben Evans - federal legislative director with the U.S. Green Building Council - said the IRA isn't focused only on businesses, but also has benefits for individual property owners.

He explained that the versatility of the tax incentives, grants, and low-cost financing allows homeowners to maximize their savings and make meaningful improvements to their property.

"And the beauty of the Inflation Reduction Act is that you can combine a lot of these," said Evans. "It's not like you have to just pick one. You can get a couple of different tax incentives for the same project. Let's say you're renovating a building and you're also adding some rooftop solar. You can get tax incentives for each of those."

The IRA is made up of multiple programs, like the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, to boost energy efficiency.

Evans said Ohio is well-positioned to lead in this area, and that people have ample time to leverage these incentives over the next decade.




get more stories like this via email

more stories
Georgia has the fourth-largest prison population in the country, with approximately 50,000 incarcerated people in state custody. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a report on the state of Georgia's prisons, citing horrific conditions and extreme violence. The …


Health and Wellness

play sound

A 2024 study showed almost 26% of Nebraskans reported having a mental-health illness in the past year -- nearly 3% higher than the national average…

Health and Wellness

play sound

Experts warn health insurance premiums could rise an average of $1,000 a year for more than 2 million Californians who buy coverage on the individual …


About 6,500 South Dakotans are in state or federal prisons, local jails and other kinds of facilities, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Wikimedia Commons)

Social Issues

play sound

Recent problems in South Dakota prisons have concerned lawmakers, corrections commission members and family members of those incarcerated, who formed …

Environment

play sound

By Jennifer Oldham for Sierra.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public New…

A rendering depicts the proposed entryway for Teague Park in Longview, Texas. (Photo courtesy City of Longview)

Environment

play sound

The City of Longview, in east Texas, will use a $1.3 million federal grant to make upgrades to one of its largest parks. Teague Park sits in the …

Social Issues

play sound

Social behavior experts said teens have fewer safe spaces to gather, with technology-driven isolation complicating matters. It is more pronounced in …

Environment

play sound

This week, federal officials announced a new round of funding for passenger rail projects. It is part of a larger push to expand and restore service…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021