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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

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Marco Rubio unveils massive State Dept. overhaul with reductions of staff and bureaus; Visas revoked, status changed for international students in TX; Alaska lawmakers work to improve in-school mental health care; Montana DEQ denies Big Hole River decision, cites law opposed by EPA; Indiana moves to regulate legal THC sales and branding.

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White House defends Secretary Hegseth amid media scrutiny, federal judges block efforts to dismantle U.S. international broadcasters, and major restructuring hits the State Department and rural programs.

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Schools in timber country face an uncertain future without Congress' reauthorization of a rural program, DOGE cuts threaten plant species needed for U.S. food security, and farmers will soon see federal dollars for energy projects unlocked.

New CA rebate program launched to cut home energy costs

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Monday, November 18, 2024   

A new rebate program could save California families up to $8,000 on an electric heat pump for home heating and cooling.

The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program is funded by the Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act.

Deana Carrillo, director of the Reliability, Renewable Energy and Decarbonization Incentives Division of the California Energy Commission, encouraged homeowners to replace their older, natural gas-powered systems.

"More efficient electric heat pumps can lower your energy bills," Carrillo pointed out. "They'll also help decarbonize your homes to make sure that the air in your home is cleaner."

TECH data suggests that the median heat pump HVAC install in CA costs almost $19,000. Families who make between 80% and 150% of the area median income qualify for a $4,000 rebate and those who make less are eligible for the full $8,000 rebate. Get more information at Tech Clean California's page for the H-E-E-H-R-A program.

The program fights climate change by reducing reliance on natural gas, a fossil fuel, to heat homes and run power plants. Carrillo stressed more electric heat pumps should lower California's carbon emissions.

"We need to be looking at using energy more efficiently," Carrillo asserted. "That will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, both locally in your home and in our effort to fight climate change nationally."

The state rolled out a program in October benefiting multifamily households. California expects to give out $15,000 rebates for single-family and multifamily households over the life of the program.


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Montana officials have denied a petition asking the state to designate the Big Hole River as "impaired" by pollution. Two conservation groups …


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