Rochester City Council approves $100K energy efficiency rebate pilot

The Rochester City Council has approved a $100,000 pilot program designed to provide energy efficiency rebates to local homeowners. The program, which passed in a 5-2 vote, is scheduled to launch next year using city contingency funds.

Of the total budget, $75,000 is earmarked for residential energy improvement rebates, with individual amounts ranging from $100 to $2,000. The remaining $25,000 will fund environmental stewardship grants for community organizations and residents, while $5,000 is allocated for administration. The initiative follows a previous proposal for a natural gas franchise fee that was rejected by the council in favor of this rebate-based model.