TL/DR –
The US federal government has eased regulations on states’ training programs for contractors on home energy-efficiency upgrades. This is in line with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which introduced the Home Energy Rebates and the Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) programs. Changes include removing the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Energy Skilled requirements and making Workforce Advisory Groups optional, giving states more flexibility and paving the way for more state programs.
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Boost for Home Energy-Efficiency Upgrades as Federal Government Softens Training Program Rules
The US federal government has eased the criteria for state participation in training programs designed to enhance contractor skills for specific home energy-efficiency upgrades.
The changes stem from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 which resulted in the establishment of the Home Energy Rebates programs. These initiatives were intended to incentivize homeowners to undertake energy-saving home improvements, including the installation of high-efficiency HVAC equipment.
As a complementary measure, the Training for Residential Energy Contractors (TREC) program was launched, setting aside $200 million for state energy offices in the form of grants. These funds were allocated toward training contractors on the specifics of the related tasks.
Prior rules stipulated that, to qualify for the funding, states had to provide training programs acknowledged by the Department of Energy (DOE) as being “Energy Skilled”. The programs also had to meet certain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) objectives and states were mandated to form “Workforce Advisory Groups” to aid in program design.
DOE Loosens Regulations
In a significant development, the DOE has relaxed some of the initial rules. Based on revised guidance released in August, the stipulations around DEI and “Energy Skilled” have been scrapped and the establishment of Workforce Advisory Groups is now optional.
The Building Performance Association (BPA)—a nonprofit organization—believes these amendments will offer more flexibility to participating states and pave the way for the emergence of new state programs.
Feedback from BPA
BPA technical director Damian Hodkinson, while speaking to Homepros, stated that the association can function as a bridge between contractors and state energy offices.
He emphasized that “Contractors have different needs in different states, but one of the overarching things is a mixture of on-the-job training and classroom training, and so we do hope that the states will think about that and address that in their program designs.”
Currently, TREC programs are operational in 13 states, according to data from the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO).
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