To help improve air quality in Idaho’s Franklin County the Department of Environmental Quality offers a financial incentive for home owners to change out old wood burning appliances with new, cleaner heating appliances.
Chris Wernert of the Pocatello DEQ office explains how the program helps people and the environment.
“What we have is two different rebates,” Wernert says. “One rebate that’s available is for everyone, regardless of your income, at $1500. And another amount is $3800, and that’s available to folks with lower incomes.”
He says the $1500 rebate will cover 50-to-60 percent of the cost of the new appliance plus installation.
Wernert says old wood stoves produce up to five times as much harmful smoke as newer models.
July 2 of this year the Utah Department of Air Quality will re-open applications for 300 rewards in a similar program benefitting Cache County home owners.