For Paul Bousquet of Boulder, navigating through various government and utility incentives to finance a clean-heat overhaul in his home was initially a time-consuming endeavor, taking him two frustrating hours. However, his experience changed dramatically when he discovered a new online tool developed by Google fellows and the nonprofit Rewiring America, which consolidates all available federal, state, local, and Xcel incentives into a single, user-friendly search platform.
Describing the effectiveness of the Rewiring America site, Bousquet remarked, “What took me two hours takes five minutes.” Through the platform, he could easily access subsidies totaling $2,200 for each of two cold-climate heat pumps, along with an additional $1,500 incentive from Boulder. Moreover, long-term, low-cost financing options for significant home renovations, including solar panels, were readily available.
At the launch event held at a distributor of Mitsubishi clean-energy heat pumps near Denver International Airport, Bousquet likened the tool to “AI for incentives,” underscoring its efficiency in facilitating access to available incentives.
Governor Jared Polis, alongside state energy officials and nonprofit leaders, emphasized the significance of the tool in connecting consumers and contractors with lucrative appliance rebates and tax incentives, particularly for transitioning from natural gas-powered machinery to electric alternatives powered by renewable energy sources.
Polis expressed his support, stating, “This will be a major selling tool for contractors,” after witnessing demonstrations by Google research fellows showcasing the calculator for various home projects at hypothetical Colorado locations. The launch of the Colorado site marks the second state collaboration between Google and Rewiring America, with plans for another 11 states to follow suit soon.
Ari Matusiak, CEO of Rewiring America, highlighted the challenges in compiling incentives for Colorado due to their abundance. The bilingual site, available in Spanish, also includes information on electric vehicle incentives, e-bike incentives, and incentives for transitioning from gas-powered lawn equipment to electric alternatives.
During a demonstration, researchers illustrated the potential incentives for a family of five in Parker, showcasing options such as solar panels, fast chargers, heat pumps, and more, with incentives amounting to $20,000 based on ZIP code and income levels.
The collaborative effort to build the Colorado calculator, spearheaded by Google.org fellows over six months, utilized generative artificial intelligence to expedite the gathering of incentive information.
The initiative aligns with federal infrastructure and clean energy laws promoted by the Biden administration, backed by billions of dollars in spending. With over 800,000 homeowners already utilizing the Rewiring America sites, promoters anticipate widespread dissemination of the calculator through state and local governments, contractors, nonprofits, and other stakeholders.
“It’s a public service,” emphasized Matusiak, highlighting the transformative impact of the tool as taxpayers approach next year’s tax season.