HB 323: "An Act relating to the Alaska energy efficient home grant fund; and creating a grant program for converting homes in regions designated as particulate matter nonattainment areas to efficient home heating systems."
00 HOUSE BILL NO. 323 01 "An Act relating to the Alaska energy efficient home grant fund; and creating a grant 02 program for converting homes in regions designated as particulate matter 03 nonattainment areas to efficient home heating systems." 04 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 05 * Section 1. AS 18.56.410(b) is amended to read: 06 (b) Subject to appropriation, the corporation shall [MAY] grant funds from 07 the Alaska energy efficient home grant fund to the owner of a home within a region 08 designated as a particulate matter nonattainment area and otherwise eligible 09 under this section for the purpose of converting to an efficient home heating 10 system. A homeowner is not eligible for a grant under this section if the 11 homeowner is eligible for an energy efficiency and weatherization program grant 12 under AS 18.56.850 that is limited to low or moderate income households. To 13 qualify for a grant under this section, an eligible homeowner shall obtain an 14 energy audit performed by an energy rater approved under regulations adopted
01 by the corporation. The cost of the audit shall be borne by the homeowner. The 02 energy rater shall, under regulations adopted by the corporation, perform an 03 inspection of the home and prepare a written estimate of the cost of converting an 04 existing heating method to an efficient home heating system. The amount of the 05 grant may not exceed the lesser of the cost of converting to an efficient home 06 heating system, as estimated by an energy rater under this subsection, or $10,000. 07 A home is eligible for a grant under this section if it is a substantially complete 08 owner-occupied single family dwelling or duplex used as a permanent residence 09 by the grant applicant, as determined by the corporation, is located in a region 10 designated as a particulate matter nonattainment area in the state, and meets 11 other requirements that may be adopted under (c) of this section. Not more than 12 25 percent of the gross floor area of the building for which a grant is received 13 may be devoted to commercial use. An eligible home does not include a home 14 (1) that is to be destroyed, abandoned, or converted to another 15 purpose within 12 months after an energy audit is performed under this 16 subsection; 17 (2) that has an existing heating oil device designated by the United 18 States Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 19 Energy, to have a rating of greater than or equal to 80 percent annual fuel 20 utilization efficiency or has as an existing heating method a wood stove listed as a 21 Certified Wood Stove by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; or 22 (3) for which a grant was previously received under this section 23 [AGENCIES OF THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, INDIVIDUALS, 24 OR BUSINESSES THAT RETROFIT EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS 25 OR BUILD NEW SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS THAT MEET CRITERIA 26 ADOPTED BY THE CORPORATION]. 27 * Sec. 2. AS 18.56.410(c) is amended to read: 28 (c) The corporation shall adopt guidelines and procedures for the fund and 29 may adopt additional eligibility requirements for grants made under this section; 30 however, the corporation may not attach income limits for homeowners who 31 apply for a grant under this section.
01 * Sec. 3. AS 18.56.410 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 02 (d) In this section, 03 (1) "efficient home heating system" means a 04 (A) furnace or boiler designated by the United States 05 Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to 06 have a rating of greater than or equal to 80 percent annual fuel utilization 07 efficiency; or 08 (B) wood stove listed as a Certified Wood Stove by the United 09 States Environmental Protection Agency; 10 (2) "particulate matter nonattainment area" means a region designated 11 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as a particulate matter (PM 12 2.5) nonattainment area under the most current standard. 13 * Sec. 4. AS 18.56.850 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 14 (c) A homeowner that has received a grant under AS 18.56.410(b) for an 15 efficient home heating system is not eligible for a grant under (a) of this section, 16 regardless of whether the homeowner has moved to a home that is not the same home 17 for which the grant was received under AS 18.56.410(b).