NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR STATE COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAMS WAP Reauthorization- 2019 WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 1
Agenda • History – What’s a reauthorization? – Past versions, stakeholders, & Congressional Champions • Components of the Bill – Authorization of Appropriations – Renewables – Health Benefits – Contractors – Innovation grants – Admin Funding – Reweatherization – Waivers • Differences between House & Senate • The Road Ahead – What didn’t make it into the bill WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 2
What is a Reauthorization Anyway? • Underlying statute creating the program – Lays out Congressional intent – Authorizes Congress to appropriate funds to the program for X amount of years – Authorizations expire -> Need reauthorization • Reauthorization – What can be changed/improved? – What should stay the same? – What is better addressed by DOE rather than legislation? – How can the program grow and innovate? – Often must be part of larger bill • Distinct from the yearly Appropriations process that determines funding level WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 3
History- Past Versions • Last reauthorization was in 2007. Authorized WAP through 2012. • Past attempts at reauthorization: – S.1213 | 113 th Congress (2013) – S. 2052 & HR 4345 | 113 th Congress (2014) – S. 703 & HR 3420 | 114 th Congress (2015) – S. 2012 | 114 th Congress (2016) – S. 1460 | 115 th Congress (2017) • Closest were S. 2012 and S. 1460 – WAP Part of larger energy bill that contained everything from nuclear waste to offshore drilling WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 4
History- Stakeholders • NASCSP – WAP State Offices • National Community Action Foundation (NCAF) – Community Action Agencies • National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) – State Energy Offices that run WAP • Home Performance Coalition (HPC) – Contractors (Formerly Affordable Comfort, now Building Performance Association) • Habitat for Humanity (Not Since 2016) WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 5
Current Bill Sponsors S 983- Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 6
Current Bill Sponsors HR 2041- Weatherization Enhancement and Local Energy Efficiency Investment and Accountability Act Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL) WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 7
Walk Through House Version HR 2041 WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 8
Authorization of Appropriations WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 9
Renewables WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 10
Health Benefits WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 11
Contractors WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 12
Contractors WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 13
Innovation Program • First proposed in 2013, members of Congress wanted to inject competition into the program post ARRA • Past Versions – Modeled after Weatherization Innovative Pilot Program (WIPP) under ARRA – “Grants for New Self-Sustaining Low-income, Single Family and Multifamily Housing Energy Retrofit Model Programs to Eligible Multistate Housing and Energy Nonprofit organizations” ( In S. 2012 ) – Unclear what innovation meant, simply serve more homes and promote new models of weatherization – Only applicants that were not current WAP subgrantees WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 14
Innovation Program (Previous Versions) • Applicants had to be non-profits that… – “have an established record of constructing, renovating, repairing, or making energy efficient a total of not less than 250 owner-occupied, single- family or multifamily homes per year for low-income households, either directly or through affiliates, chapters, or other direct partners (using the most recent year for which data are available).” – Very few organizations fit the definition: Habitat for Humanity, Rebuilding Together, etc. WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 15
Innovation Program (Previous Versions) • Funding – Initially created as an entirely separate program • E.g. WAP gets an appropriation and new program gets an appropriation • Concern that new program would be funded instead of WAP – Threshold & percentage system was created • E.g. If WAP receives $____, ___% goes into innovation fund – As late as 2017 version (S. 1460): • 2% if appropriation is less that $225 million • 5% if appropriation is between $225 million and $260 million • 10% if the amount is more than $260 Million WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 16
Innovation Program (Previous Versions) • Problems – Giving $$ to organizations who haven’t been found to do weatherization effectively (Oak Ridge WIPP evaluation) – High percentages of funds directed to innovation and reducing the core program – Unclear what projects funds would be used for WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 17
Current Innovation Program • Clear Purposes – Addressing deferrals WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 18
Current Innovation Program • Clear Purposes – Renewables – Weatherization Plus Health WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 19
Current Innovation Program • Clear Purposes – Innovative practices WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 20
More Specifically… WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 21
More Specifically… WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 22
More Specifically… WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 23
Current Innovation Program • Who can apply? – State WAP Grantees – WAP Subgrantees – Other Non-profits • Funding – 2% if appropriation is between $225 million and $260 million – 4% if appropriation is between $260 million and $300 million – 6% if appropriation is above $300 million – Total program capped at $25 million – Each grant up to $2 million WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 24
Current Innovation Program • Why is this better? – Innovation has a floor and a ceiling, limits funds being reduced from core program – True competition, traditional WAP network compete against new applicants (if any) – Funds can be used for priorities of the network (e.g. healthy homes, renewables, deferrals, new tech, etc.) – Preference for partnerships & regional coordination in the award factors • Concerns remain – What is DOE’s capacity to administer this? – Slightly higher appropriation needed to trigger warm weather formula – SERC still on the books, DOE can run if $275 million – DOE contract directly with local agency is uncharted territory WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 25
Increase in Admin WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 26
Reweatherization Date WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 27
Reweatherization Date WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 28
Waivers WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 29
Slight Differences • House and Senate version have a few variations that will need to be resolved • Senate bill creates definition of “interim services” in reference to going back into the home for evaluation, education etc. – House language is better in our view • Record of “constructing, renovating, repairing, and making energy efficient single-family, multifamily, or manufactured homes that are occupied by low-income persons” – House version says “or”, Senate language is better WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 30
Road Ahead • DOE has been asked to officially weigh in on the bill • Challenges to State role • Hearing was held on April 10th along with 7 other bills – More hearings, “markup” where amendments will be considered • Passed as standalone legislation or picked up in a larger package WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 31
Road Ahead • More cosponsors join on, build more bipartisan support • Reauthorization is not perfect but… – Core program is protected – Best shot at reauthorization in a long time – NASCSP, NASEO, HPC, NCAF all support – NASCSP will continue to shape the bill and process – Provides opportunity for program modernization without mandates – Addresses priorities voiced by the network WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 32
Questions??? WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 33
Stay In Touch • Eric Behna | ebehna@nascsp.org • Amy Klusmeier | aklusmeier@nascsp.org Don’t hesitate to reach out with additional feedback and questions! WAP Reauthorization Webinar | 4-18-19 34
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