Linn County Public Health announces a multi-county expansion of the Wood-Burning Appliance Change-Out Program beyond Linn County. Homeowners living in the counties of Benton, Buchanan, Cedar, Delaware, Iowa, Johnson and Jones may now be eligible for incentives to replace old, uncertified wood stoves, boilers or other wood-fueled heating appliances. In addition to living in one of the eight counties listed above, eligible homeowners must live in the Interstate Power and Light (IPL) / Alliant Energy gas and/or electric service area, and use an uncertified wood-burning appliance as the primary or significant source of heat at the primary residence.
Incentives range from $1,000 to $8,000, depending on the type of replacement appliance purchased, with an additional $250 awarded to active or retired members of the U.S Armed Forces or first responders. Replacement appliances must be purchased and installed through a program approved retailer. Do-it-yourself purchases and installations are not eligible. Visit www.burncleanlinn.org to learn about the program and to view the approved retailer list.
The program aims to improve indoor and outdoor air quality by reducing pollution from old, non-certified wood-burning appliances and replacing them with cleaner burning, EPA-certified or qualified appliances. Residential wood heaters emit pollutants that can worsen indoor and outdoor air quality and cause health problems. People with lung and/or heart conditions, children and older adults are especially vulnerable. New heating appliances that use wood fuel or electricity are more efficient and subject to EPA or Energy Star regulations.
This program ends on Feb. 15, 2021 or whenever all funds have been awarded. This project is funded by a consent decree settlement between the U.S. EPA, the State of Iowa, Linn County, the Sierra Club and IPL.