As our communities in Orange and Rockland counties continue to recover from the damage and flooding from Tropical Storms Irene and Lee, there will be ongoing opportunities for New Yorkers to receive assistance from the state and one of the newest programs is the Storm Relief Rebate Program for the purchase of ENERGY STAR® appliances and equipment.
Applications for the Storm Relief Rebates will be available on Monday, September 19, 2011 and be processed on a first-come, first-served basis until the $8 million in appropriated funds run out. To qualify, New York State residents affected by Irene must have approved appliance or equipment purchased on or after August 29, 2011; for those affected by Lee, appliances and equipment must have been purchased on or after September 9, 2011.
Through the program, New Yorkers who have appliances or equipment that were lost or sustained damage through either tropical storm may receive cash rebates toward the purchase of new ENERGY STAR® products, including refrigerators, clothes washers/dryers, dehumidifiers, furnaces, boilers, and hot water heaters, among other products. Only products that replace those damaged or lost in either storm can qualify for the rebate – with the exception of dehumidifiers (residents also may receive a rebate if they purchased a qualifying dehumidifier to help reduce humidity as part of their storm cleanup efforts).
A complete list of eligible ENERGY STAR® appliances and equipment, as well as other details and rules can be found on the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) rebate website at www.nysappliancerebates.com. Applications will be available on the website beginning September 19, 2011.
Residents without Internet access also may find more information or apply by calling NYSERDA’s rebate Help Desk at 1-877-NY-SMART. The Help Desk is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm; however, due to an expected high volume of calls, residents are encouraged to apply online.
Although $8 million in funding has been dedicated to this rebate program, the damage from Irene and Lee has been so widespread throughout our state that I strongly encourage residents to visit NYSERDA’s website as soon as possible to learn more about this cost-saving program and apply early.
As always, I would like to remind constituents that my office is here to help and assist them – especially as we continue working to restore our homes, neighborhoods and communities in the wake of Irene and Lee. Please do not hesitate to contact me by emailing rabbitta@assembly.state.ny.us or calling my office in Goshen at (845) 291-3631.