Utah is expected to receive $850,000 from the federal government for a weatherization loan program, aimed at households that are slightly over the poverty level.
Though state officials are still awaiting final approval from the U.S. Department of Energy, the weatherization low-interest loan program is slated to begin early next year. Households earning between 150 and 200 percent of the federal poverty level would potentially qualify. For a four-person household, the 200 percent limit is about $44,100 annually. A homeowner interested in applying for a loan will work through one of eight local agencies across the state. The idea is to employ installers trained by the state’s new weatherization center, based in Clearfield.The state will need to match the federal grant with $2.5 million of private money. Banks have already expressed interest in participating in the loan program, Johnson said, so funding the “revolving” loan program is not expected to be an issue.
As Utahns pay back their weatherization loans, money would be available for other people creating a longterm source of weatherization funding. As of the end of July, stimulus dollars had paid for the weatherization of 1,864 homes. That’s about 41 percent of the state’s goal, a total of 4,466 homes. With almost two more years to go of funding, the state has already spent $11 million and created new jobs for about 90 additional weatherization coordinators and installers. The Salt Lake Tribune
