House Republicans just voted against energy efficiency rebates and for nuclear warheads
House Republicans voted yesterday to scrap “wasteful” energy efficiency rebates – and also voted to spend $19.1 billion on nuclear warheads.
Republicans vote to scrap energy efficiency rebates
Republicans passed HR 4394, “Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024,” in a 210-199 vote yesterday afternoon (with only one Republican no vote).
The bill cuts $5.58 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act – or what the Republicans call “wasteful Washington spending.”
The cuts to the Inflation Reduction Act include (and I am directly quoting from a summary of the bill):
- $4.5 billion for rebates for new electric appliances or installation of home electrification projects, including the replacement of gas stoves and appliances;
- $1 billion for states and local governments to adopt net zero and implement the latest
- building energy codes; and
- $200 million for installation training for home energy efficiency and electrification projects.
But hey, at least there’s an 8% boost from 2022 for nuclear weapons stockpiling and infrastructure.
Electrek’s Take
The Inflation Reduction Act is not only the best chance the US has had for decades to reduce emissions in order to combat climate change, but it also grows the economy and saves Americans money. It’s created a huge domestic manufacturing boom, which, in turn, is creating hundreds of thousands of jobs that upskill workers in preparation for the unstoppable shift to renewables. It helps Americans reduce their energy bills and make their homes more comfortable in the face of extreme weather.
Here are a couple of personal examples. I have a heat pump hot water heater because our water heater was old and inefficient – it sounded like an airplane when it fired up and cost a fortune in energy bills.
My new Rheem heat pump hot water heater costs $109 a year to run. Heat pump hot water heaters generally cost between $1,500 and $3,000. The Inflation Reduction Act provides a $2,000 tax credit to everyone, regardless of income, for this efficient smart appliance. Low-income households (under 80% of Area Median Income) qualify for rebates that cover 100% of heat pump water heater costs up to $1,750, and that can be combined with the tax credit. The Inflation Reduction Act also funds training for technicians so they have the skills to install heat pump water heaters.
Our house also needed its electrical panel replaced this summer. That qualifies for a $600 tax credit, again, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. This isn’t “wasteful spending” to my family; we needed that help as part of an essential and costly upgrade. The tax credit really takes the sting off, and now our panel is up to code.
So not only did the Republican Party waste time by voting to dismantle essential parts of the Inflation Reduction Act – because it’s ultimately going to be vetoed by the White House – they voted to spend $19.114 billion on the US’s nuclear weapons stockpile.
Nuclear weapons, like climate change, are a fundamental threat to humanity. “Wasteful spending.” This you, GOP?
Read more: Here’s how much money you’ll get with the Inflation Reduction Act
Photo: Pixabay on Pexels.com
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New York City just brought another EV fast-charging station online, this time in the Bronx, one of the city’s most underserved areas for clean transportation.
The New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) has opened a new public fast-charging station at its White Plains Road Municipal Parking Field in the Bronx Park East section of the borough, at 2071 White Plains Road.
The site includes four DC fast chargers, three 50 kW units, and one 175 kW unit, which can give most EVs an 80% charge in about 20 minutes. Four additional Level 2 chargers can fully charge most vehicles in six to eight hours.
This new Bronx hub sits in a community with one of the city’s highest concentrations of Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) drivers. Nearly 1,000 TLC-licensed drivers live nearby, and another 1,500 live in adjacent neighborhoods. TLC drivers can sign up through the EV Connect app for a 15% discount on charging fees.
“Achieving a greener transportation future means investing in electric vehicle chargers that will help us say goodbye to fossil fuels,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, a former cab driver himself. “East Bronxites will benefit significantly from these new EV chargers, and we look forward to continuing this critical work to fulfill the Adams administration’s ambitious goals.”
Those goals include the Green Rides Initiative, which aims to make all high-volume for-hire vehicle trips zero-emission or wheelchair-accessible by 2030. The new Bronx station also moves the city closer to Mayor Adams’ PlaNYC target of ensuring that every New Yorker lives within 2.5 miles of a fast charger by 2035. With this latest installation, the share of New Yorkers who live near a fast charger jumps from 81% to 88%.
The Bronx currently has the fewest fast chargers of any borough, and most of the city’s existing stations are concentrated in higher-income areas of Manhattan and inner Brooklyn and Queens. NYC DOT says this new location is part of a push to make EV charging more equitable and accessible.
As of September 2025, 79,036 EVs are registered in New York City – about 25% of New York State’s EVs.
Read more: NYC’s newest EV charger hangs 10 feet high on a lamppost
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The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 was one of the most affordable EVs you could lease in the US. Although the $7,500 EV credit has now expired, Hyundai is keeping the savings going with the 2026 model.
Hyundai extends EV deals for the 2026 IONIQ 5
Hyundai reduced prices on the 2026 IONIQ 5 by up to $9,800 earlier this month compared to the outgoing model. Starting at under $35,000, it’s now one of the most affordable EVs, putting it on par with the Chevy Equinox EV.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 remains a top-selling EV in the US, and may still be your best bet if you’re looking to go electric.
You can still lease the new 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range for as low as $289 per month. That’s only $10 more per month than before the $7,500 federal EV tax credit expired at the end of September. The offer is for a 24-month lease with $3,999 due at signing.
However, upgrading to the longer-range SE trim might be an even better option. The 2026 IONIQ 5 SE is listed at just $299 per month, even though it costs $2,500 more than the base model at $37,500.
The standard range model has an EPA-estimated driving range of 245 miles, while the SE trim offers considerably more, at up to 318 miles. For just 10$ more per month, a 30% improvement in range is a pretty sweet deal.
Hyundai is offering $4,500 in lease cash on the longer range 2026 IONIQ 5 SE, compared to just $750 for the base model.
| Hyundai IONIQ 5 Trim | Driving Range (miles) | 2025 Starting Price | 2026 Starting Price* | Price Reduction |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range | 245 | $42,600 | $35,000 | ($7,600) |
| IONIQ 5 SE RWD | 318 | $46,650 | $37,500 | ($9,150) |
| IONIQ 5 SEL RWD | 318 | $49,600 | $39,800 | ($9,800) |
| IONIQ 5 Limited RWD | 318 | $54,300 | $45,075 | ($9,225) |
| IONIQ 5 SE Dual Motor AWD | 290 | $50,150 | $41,000 | ($9,150) |
| IONIQ 5 SEL Dual Motor AWD | 290 | $53,100 | $43,300 | ($9,800) |
| IONIQ 5 XRT Dual Motor AWD | 259 | $55,500 | $46,275 | ($9,225) |
| IONIQ 5 Limited Dual Motor AWD | 269 | $58,200 | $48,975 | ($9,225) |
For those looking to save a little extra, Hyundai is still offering $11,000 in retail cash on 2025 IONIQ 5 models and 0% APR financing for 72 months. The 2025 IONIQ 5 can be leased from $189 per month until November 3. The offer is also for 36 months with $3,999 due at signing.
Interested in test-driving Hyundai’s electric SUV? You can use our link to find Hyundai IONIQ 5 models at a dealership near you.
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Californians just set another record for zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) adoption. In Q3 2025, residents bought 124,755 ZEVs – that’s nearly 1 in 3 new cars sold statewide. The 29.1% market share marks California’s highest quarterly total of ZEVs yet.
Governor Gavin Newsom called the milestone proof that Californians are all-in on clean transportation, even as the federal government moves in the opposite direction. “We’re nearing a third of all new vehicles sold in the fourth-largest economy on the planet being clean cars,” he said. “While Trump sells out American innovation to China, California will keep charging ahead on our path to a future of cleaner air.”
California Energy Commissioner Nancy Skinner added that the state’s massive charging expansion is paying off. Thanks to new investments, nearly every Californian now lives within 10 minutes of an EV fast charger. “Now, new EV owners can enjoy a great driving experience, bidding goodbye to smelly gas stations, messy oil changes, and costly engine tune-ups,” she said.
The state’s ZEV market is also growing more diverse. In Q1 2024, there were 105 ZEV models available; by Q1 2025, that number had climbed to 146. Of the 124,755 ZEVs sold in Q3, 108,685 were fully electric, nearly a 30% jump from Q2 2025.
Read more: California now has 68% more EV charger ports than gas nozzles
The 30% federal solar tax credit is ending this year. If you’ve ever considered going solar, now’s the time to act. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
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