Household rebates of up to $25 million in all 50 states and U.S. territories through fiscal year 2029 is proposed by a North Carolina congresswoman in the Cool Roof Rebate Act.
Eligible households would gain assistance for the purchase and installation of cool roofing products. The metrics for measurement are exposure to extreme heat and median income of the residence’s ZIP code, says a release from Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-N.C.
The Department of Energy would be required, six months after the program’s closure, to report to Congress on efficacy and impact. Foushee’s bill filed on Monday is cosponsored by Democrats Sylvia Garcia of Texas, Shri Thanedar of Michigan, Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Raul Ruiz of California.
An uphill climb is expected; the House of Representatives has 220 Republicans, 213 Democrats and two vacancies. The bill was sent to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
The legislation has the support of Coachella Valley House Coalition, a California-headquartered nonprofit; Federation of American Scientists, a Washington-headquartered policy think tank; and Smart Surfaces Coalition, an organization committed to combatting climate threats and promoting equity.
“As communities across the country continue to experience extreme weather events and record-breaking heat due to climate change, it is critical that Congress take steps to provide communities with the support they need to mitigate the effects,” Foushee said in a release. “The Cool Roof Rebate Act will help vulnerable households purchase reflective roofing products through a first of its kind federal rebate program, thereby lowering energy costs and increasing energy efficiency.”
The Cool Roof Rebate Act is also known as House Resolution 2679.
