The WAP Funding Formula: Ambiguous, Contentious, Forgotten

The manner in which Weatherization Assistance Program funds have been allocated to states has been a contentious issue since the inception of the program. The “need” for weatherization is subjective and the way alternative proxies for need are defined and combined strongly influence the distribution of funds among states. Southern states have long argued that too much of the federal funding goes to cold-climate and rural states, while Northern states disagree. The WAP funding formula needs to be recalibrated and simplified.