"Among dozens of federal programs proposed for elimination in the Trump administration’s newly revealed budget proposal is the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, or WAP, a grant program housed under the Department of Energy that helps states improve the energy efficiency of the homes of low-income families. It’s one of several climate and energy-related initiatives that, if erased, could actually hurt consumers in ways that seem inconsistent with the economy-boosting action the administration claims to seek.

Two weeks ago, we described the administration’s proposal to eliminate the federal Energy Star program as part of a sweeping series of cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency — a move that energy efficiency experts argued could financially hurt consumers and businesses. Cutting the WAP, experts say, could have a similar effect. Like Energy Star, WAP benefits the environment by reducing energy consumption and thereby cutting down on harmful greenhouse gas emissions — but its most fundamental purpose is to save consumers money on their energy bills.

'Homeowners that are lucky enough to benefit from this program can save up to $450 a year on their energy bills,' said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, adding that while this may not sound like a lot to some, for low-income families it can be 'very significant.'"

Chelsea Harvey reports for the Washington Post March 20, 2017. [2]