Detroit firm uses IRA funds for household energy efficiency

TL/DR –

Michigan Central Station’s reopening on June 6 is expected to boost the local economy and innovation sector. State funds from the Inflation Reduction Act will be utilized to create jobs, increase domestic manufacturing, lower energy costs, and reduce air pollution. Additionally, Detroit-based business Pearl Edison, which promotes clean electrification, recently completed a Home Energy Rebate program for low-income homeowners using these funds, and in October, up to $14,000 in IRA funds will be available for low-income families to invest in energy efficiency.

Michigan Central Station’s Reopening Sparks Excitement Around Local Innovation District

The reopening of Michigan Central Station on June 6 has stirred excitement about the prospects for the mobility innovation district in Corktown. Tenants will have to wait another month before restaurants and retailers can take occupancy, but the idea of Detroit and Michigan as an innovation hub is gaining traction, with many focused on jumpstarting the local economy.

One of the reasons Michigan can do this is the Inflation Reduction Act. The state aims to use these funds to create good-paying jobs, increase domestic manufacturing, lower energy costs, and reduce air pollution. Pearl Edison is a Detroit business that promotes clean electrification, starting with heating and cooling. They have completed a Home Energy Rebate pilot program for low-income homeowners using IRA funds.

Yurek, one of Pearl Edison’s co-founders, sees the reopening of Michigan Central as a major reason for his move from Colorado. He also hinted at creative ways of utilizing IRA funds to lower utility bills for Detroiters and improve profit margins for Detroit-based contracting businesses. The goal is to ensure top-tier contractors receive more work, and these funds will facilitate that.

Pearl Edison’s other co-founder, Anderson, talked about the challenges low-income individuals face when trying to invest in energy efficiency. Starting October, up to $14,000 in IRA funds per project will be made available for low-income families to upgrade their homes’ energy efficiency.

For more on Yurek and Anderson’s discussion, use the media player below. Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org.

Other Headlines from The Metro

• The city of Hamtramck swore in its first Yemeni and Muslim police chief, Jamiel Altaheri.
• Say Burgin discusses her new book, “Organizing Your Own: The White Fight for Black Power in Detroit”.
• A 1968 class action lawsuit against Hamtramck for displacing a Black neighborhood for the I-75 freeway construction ended last month. Read more here.
• This week on WDET’s state politics podcast, MichMash, the discussion is about the state budget and the politics that need to be negotiated to pass it.

Listen to The Metro on 101.9 FM or stream it on-demand.

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