New Mexico gets $22 million in Biden infrastructure bill to improve home energy efficiency

Homes throughout New Mexico could become more energy efficient during extreme weather events as the state will receive up to $22 million in federal grant dollars to do so via the infrastructure bill recently signed into law by President Joe Biden.

The bill earmarked the federal dollars for New Mexico through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program.

Money would provide rebates to aid low-income families retrofitting their homes for better energy efficiency, intended to reduce utility bills.

The program, created in 1976, was estimated to save homes an average of at least $372 a year and served 7 million families since its inception, per a report from the DOE.

That also supported 8,500 jobs, per the report.

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) said the work will help his constituents save money while improving energy efficiency and could promote more electric, energy-efficient appliances.

“When New Mexico homes use less energy, New Mexico families save more money,” he said. “I’m proud to see the Infrastructure Law deliver investments that provide New Mexicans the opportunity to upgrade and weatherproof their homes that will result in lower monthly energy costs.”

Heinrich said the funding in conjunction with Zero Emissions Homes Act he sponsored, which was most recently assigned the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, would help cut environmental impacts and save New Mexicans on their bills.

“With Democrats in control of both Congress and White House, we have a prime opportunity to create more dollar-saving opportunities that will help even more New Mexicans electrify their homes,” he said. “We are already making the clean energy transition more accessible to all Americans, implementing this rebate system will make it more affordable.”

The rest of New Mexico’s Democrat congressional delegation signaled support for the funding and legislation to address climate change and provide an economic boost for their state.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making a difference in New Mexico – helping lower costs for New Mexicans and making our homes more energy efficient,” said U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan. “This investment in the Weatherization Assistance Program will support jobs and opportunities and provide support for thousands of households across the country.”

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) touted the assistance program saving hundreds of dollars annually on electric bills in New Mexico and across the U.S. while also reducing pollution from fossil fuels.

“I’m proud that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes historic investments in the Weatherization Assistance Program, which will help New Mexicans across the state and help to address climate change,” she said.

“By reducing energy costs for New Mexico families and increasing energy efficiency, this funding will help improve homes, save families an average of $283 or more a year, and support good paying jobs—all while saving energy and helping build a more resilient future.”

And U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) said the funding and weatherization program would particularly help New Mexicans both in local communities and Indigenous groups.

"Investing in energy efficiency and weatherization is a win for everyone,” she said. “This program will reduce utility costs for our low-income families and ensure the health and safety of their homes. Let's build on these investments and continue to deliver for our communities.”

New Mexico’s top utility companies also assisted to their customers in weatherizing their homes for better energy efficiency.

Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), the state’s biggest power provider, provides home energy “checkups” by sending specialists to home customers to evaluate energy efficiency in person or virtually.

Retrofits for home lighting could save up to $75 a year, PNM reported, while weather insulation can prevent up to 40 percent of air leaks.

Xcel Energy, which serves regions in southeast New Mexico, offered incentives since 2001 along with access for New Mexico users to renewable energy both in residential and commercial sectors.

The company provided $750,000 to residential customers in 2021, along with $1.5 million for low income homes.

“The Residential and Low Income Home Energy Service was developed by Xcel Energy to provide an incentive to suppliers of energy services to implement electric energy-efficiency projects at Xcel Energy residential customers' facilities,” read a statement from Xcel.

“The primary objective of the Home Energy Service is to achieve cost-effective reduction in peak summer demand.”