Colorado is trying to combat poverty and climate change by transforming low-income families. Now, the state will get a huge boost from the infrastructure law just passed by Congress. Sam Brasch from Colorado Public Radio reports.

SAM BRASCH, connection: Hello, this is Sam.

BRASCH: When I visited Laura Rascon's mobile home, it was a brisk autumn afternoon. It is backed by the mountains of a community where most people work in the nearby ski town. Inside, it is warm, but not always like this.

BRASCH: "It's always cold," she said. "Cold air comes in through the door. I have two broken windows." Her propane stove also has bad habits. To stay comfortable, they will carry space heaters from room to room. Rascon said that one night three years ago, her daughter put one too close to the bed. The blanket is on fire. Rascon woke up in time and threw it out the front door before anyone was injured.

BRASCH: "I'm scared," she said, "because we don't know if it will happen again at night or when she is home alone after school." Today, she is looking forward to a winter that is far less anxious. That's because the state has updated her home with new windows, insulation, and things that are not normally included in government-supported energy efficiency projects—all new appliances. Doug Jones works on the Northwest Colorado State Council and is responsible for coordinating this work.

DOUG JONES: It is really satisfying to see our employees close the propane pipeline here at the end of the project.

Blasch: Jones said this is an example of so-called electrification.

Jones: This allows people to stop using combustion-based fuels and install cold climate heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and induction stoves.

Blasch: Many climate scientists want more all-electric houses because they can be powered entirely by renewable energy. But this is where things get complicated. Most of Jones' funding comes from the federal government, called the "weatherization assistance program." In its 45-year history, it has focused on reducing energy costs, rather than replacing one energy source with another. Ryan Harry runs the Colorado version of the program.

RYAN HARRY: Many people hope that it is still an energy efficiency project, but I think it has a deeper role.

BRASCH: Due to the bipartisan infrastructure law, he said that this role will be expanded to include $3.5 billion for weathering in the next ten years-he said the funds will help his plan to increase the number of households by about 50% each year.

Harry: Then we can use it to counter our other sources of funding in order to be able to carry out more in-depth renovations in the house.

BRASCH: Deeper transformations, such as comprehensive household electrification. Currently, his plan is to renovate only propane-heated houses. It is economically feasible because the fuel is so expensive, which justifies the cost of the electric heat pump. These are basically reversible air conditioners that are now efficient enough to work in cold climates.

Harry: Air source heat pumps are slightly more expensive, so it is very important for us to ensure that we are in a leading position in this field to help reduce costs.

BRASCH: If the price of heat pumps drops, Harry said the state could expand to more common natural gas-heated households and begin to keep thousands of low-income residents away from fossil fuels. For NPR News, I’m Sam Brasch from Dotsero, Colorado. Transcript provided by NPR, NPR copyright.