The Weatherization Leveraged Partnerships Project is funded by the Department of Energy to offer training and assistance to local WAP organizations  in designing private partnerships and programs that leverage the WAP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • New Weatherization Survey
  • Energy Innovations and Promising Practices
  • Does Your Program Have A Fair Share? 

  • House Appropriations Hearings
  • Performance Study
  • Partner Training Opportunities
 
WAP NETWORK'S TOTAL 2017 FUNDING WAS OVER $1.04 BILLION!

Our yearly survey of the state and local weatherization providers, which determines the funds available from all sources, has just been published by our research partner the  National Association of State Community Services Programs. The summary can be found on our Energy project page here.
 
The total reported was over $1.04 billion dollars , including $223 million of DOE funds. This figure is consistent with post-Recovery Act years, when all funding [in combined surveys] has remained higher than $900 million. (Note: 50 states and DC were surveyed)
 
LIHEAP  was once again the largest source of funds. States provided more than $400 million to their weatherization programs, typically under different, more flexible regulations.
 
Non-federal funds in 41 states , predominately the utility ratepayer funds for low-income efficiency programs and some state taxpayer funds, added up to more than $394 million. There was huge variation among states regarding the amount of non-federal resources delivered by the local WAP organizations.
 
Please check out your state in our table and get in touch with our Weatherization Leveraged Partnerships project if you have better information or more detail.
DOES YOUR PROGRAM HAVE A FAIR SHARE OF THE $1 BILLION?

If  you don't think so, this is your moment of opportunity: it's the season of finalizing the PY 19 state plans for April 1 and of beginning to develop the plans for programs beginning July 1. States have committed to working intensively with their subgrantees on all aspects of designing and applying for next year's WAP; isn't it time for you to utilize the allowable, generous funding for the process of leveraging additional resources? Nearly every substantial non-federal program in our online table began with advocates funding with leveraging funds.
 
Our Leveraged Partnerships Project has extensive material on how the funding in any state can be, or was, used - including model plans and planning guides. Start here .  Then contact us for more ideas, resources and the website links.
DOE WAP INITIATES THE 2019 FEDERAL AND STATE PERFORMANCE STUDY
 
On Feb 22, Erica Burrin, WAP manager, announced to Grantees that their version of the 'Satisfaction Survey' is being distributed. Grantees have until the end of March to respond [anonymously] about how well DOE is managing the program.
 
Soon after, subgrantees will be asked to evaluate how the states are doing at managing WAP from the local perspective. The results of the 2017 Survey have led to many positive changes.
CATCH UP WITH ENERGY INNOVATIONS AND PROMISING PRACTICES 

The energy track of workshops at CAP's January Management and Leadership Conference in New Orleans showcased leveraging and partnership practices that moved organizations forward and higher. Catch up with these presentations:
  • Out-of-the-WAP-Box projects in community solar and
  • a major health insurer pilot partnership, 
  • a solar garden owned by the CAP
  • A deep dive workshop on managing and braiding multiple funding streams and, by popular request
  • Education for Executive Directors and their leadership team on how WAP really works.
  The presentations are available online  here, at the bottom of the web page, and we plan to deliver a national webinar or two so everyone in the network can get the information. 

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE HEARING ON WAP'S FUTURE

The new chair of the House of Representatives Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH], convened an oversight hearing on the status and future of Weatherization Assistance on Feb 13. The witnesses included not only the Department of Energy but also a skilled local WAP manager, a state manager and a national association. Members of both parties demonstrated deep interest in program issues and positive support. This Subcommittee, under Republican leadership, has provided growing program funding for PY 18 and PY 19 despite Presidential opposition. The hearing, a first to explore WAP in well over a decade, was a lively and interesting event. You and your colleagues can enjoy seeing Members of Congress think out loud and ask about the program at this livestream recording.  Click  here for the recording.

The WAP mission is about more than helping Americans cut down on the cost of energy, it is about saving lives. Despite misguided attempts to gut the program, WAP has successfully accomplished their vital mission for over 40 years. It is our job to ensure that WAP remains strong for the next 40 years."- Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH] 2/13/2019

UPCOMING PARTNER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES 

Home Performance Conference
The Department of Energy has announced that it will sponsor the 2019 Home Performance Conference and Trade Show taking place April 1-3, 2019 in Chicago, IL. This training opportunity replaces the historical DOE hosted National Training Conference. This is an important opportunity for local agencies to get 'hands-on' and classroom training and can be funded utilizing WAP Training and Technical Assistance funding according to WAP Memorandum 044. See more information on the conference website. Note that the discount registration code for Weatherizers is  NATWAP1

GET IN TOUCH 

Our goal as the Weatherization Leveraged Partnerships Project is to offer training and assistance to WAP organizations in designing private partnerships and programs that leverage the WAP.

We are available to assist your local Weatherization Network in getting started with leveraging or responding to challenges in current partnerships.

For assistance, contact Meg Power, Project Advisor at: [email protected]
Weatherization Leveraged Partnerships Project at Community Action Partnership



This publication was created by the National Association of Community Action Agencies - Community Action Partnership, in the performance of the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Grant Number, EE0008051. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
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