Trump's DOE restarts energy rebate program with dumb conditions

Switching from fossil fuels to electricity for heating is no longer covered. Federal energy efficiency rebate programs will no longer cover a switch from fossil fuels to electricity for heating, according to long-awaited guidance from the Department of Energy. The department published an update on how it will implement consumer programs with $8.8 billion in funding. The new provisions include eliminating use of diversity, equity and inclusion considerations, among other changes. This follows legal challenges after President Donald Trump issued an executive order last year, upon returning to office, canceling the release of funds from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, including rebates for home energy efficiency. A coalition of states successfully sued to restore the funding, obtaining an injunction in March 2025. States have been waiting for the Department of Energy to reopen funding, a process that begins with this latest publication. Clean energy and environmental advocates said the guidance was overdue and severely flawed. Tony Sirna, deputy policy director for Evergreen Action, said it’s “flatly illegal” to eliminate funding for electrification, which was a part of Congress’ int