Climate Pollution Reduction in Homes Initiative: grants.

Existing law requires the Department of Community Services and Development to develop and administer the Energy Efficiency Low-Income Weatherization Program, and authorizes the department to develop requirements, guidelines, and subgrantee contract provisions for the program. Existing law requires the department to identify best practices from model programs and funding mechanisms. Existing law requires the department to provide a recommended action plan to promote projects that include energy improvements, create mechanisms for enforcing state energy upgrade program requirements to maintain the affordability of benefiting units to low-income tenants, and ensure greater cross-referral between public health agencies and the program for purposes of comprehensive energy and healthy home improvements for low-income multifamily residents in disadvantaged communities. Upon appropriation by the Legislature, this bill would establish the Climate Pollution Reduction in Homes Initiative, which would require the department, in consultation with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, to award grants for local service providers, as defined, to provide financial assistance to low-income households for the purchase of zero-carbon-emitting appliances. Under the initiative, the department would be required to develop guidelines for implementation, as specified, and local service providers would be authorized to use those grant moneys for outreach and technical assistance, rebates, loans, installation, educational information, and other support services to assist low-income households.