Grant sought to aid poorer homeowners

Low-income Clark County residents could soon have access to free home improvements meant to reduce climate pollution.

That is if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approves a $500 million grant application that was endorsed Monday by county commissioners.

The county hopes to use those federal dollars to create a “one-stop shop” for home and building improvements, including those to enhance air quality, increase water and energy efficiency and reduce the cost of utility bills.

The hub would provide residents and businesses with financial resources, contractors and technical assistance, all with the purpose of reducing energy consumption, water use and carbon emissions in Clark County.

Eighty percent of the funds would be designated to provide free retrofits, which could include weatherization, enhancing building envelopes, heat pumps and electrification. Those funds, which aim to increase water and energy conservation, could support improvements to more than 20,000 at-need households, according to the grant application.

The grant is expected to be awarded in October, and the hub is expected to be operational in 2025, Clark County Department of Environment & Sustainability spokesperson Kevin Macdonald said.

The department is exploring “service delivery models” for the hub, he said.

“No decisions have been made yet, but the centerpiece of the Hub is providing concierge-level, person-to-person service for people who want to make energy-efficient home improvements,” Macdonald said in an email. “A person coming to the Hub for assistance will interact with a person who will help them cut through the paperwork and red tape to find their best home improvement solutions.”

The hub program would be in partnership with other local agencies, including the cities of Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The coalition also includes the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and the Southern Nevada Water Authority.

The local entities will be required to sign an agreement and will be able to receive funds through the grant as subrecipients. The local agencies will be required to promote the implementation of the program, and evaluate its effectiveness at reducing climate pollution.

All local entities are expected to sign agreements by the end of March, while the SNWA is expected to approve the agreement at the end of May.