The Nebraska Energy Office today confirmed the state will be providing appliance and residential heating and cooling equipment rebates funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the state will receive $1.71 million for rebates and to operate the program, and was awarded $171,100 to the Nebraska Energy Office yesterday.
The state is expected to submit its plan for types of appliances, the amount of the rebate by appliance and how the program will operate to the U.S. Department of Energy on or before the October 15, 2009 deadline. Under the program, only ten types of appliances and heating and cooling equipment are eligible for rebates: boilers, central air conditioners, clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, furnaces (oil and gas), heat pumps (air source and geothermal), refrigerators, room air conditioners and water heaters. States have the option of selecting some or all of the eligible appliances and equipment. All appliances and equipment must meet or exceed Energy Star standards.
Purchases of Energy Star qualified appliances and equipment prior to the start of the program in Nebraska will not eligible for rebates.
The Energy Office is consulting with electric and natural gas utilities and appliance retailers in designing the state’s program. Once the U.S. Department of Energy receives the state’s application in October, federal energy staff will review, request modifications and approve the application. How long that review might take is unknown at this time, but approval will not be prior to October 15, 2009. When the state’s application is approved, the Energy Office hopes to have a rebate program operational within 30 days.
Questions about these loans can be directed to Jerry Loos at jerry.loos@nebraska.gov or 402-471-3356.
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