City receives $1.7 million to continue helping families improve sustainability – City of Albuquerque

ALBUQUERQUE – The City of Albuquerque’s Community Energy Efficiency (CEE) Project has been awarded $1.7 million from the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to expand energy efficiency improvements and modernization efforts in our frontline communities . Through CEE, income-qualified homeowners in Albuquerque receive free energy audits and renovation plans to achieve significant energy savings and increase safety and comfort for homeowners.

Data has shown that low-income residents have disproportionately high utility bills compared to other city residents; they spend 10 percent or more of their household income on energy bills. This is often due to the inefficiency of older homes and appliances, and the costs associated with repairs and updates. Based on previous surveys of low-income homeowners, these residents were often faced with the difficult choice between paying for medical expenses, food or their monthly utility bills.

“Our frontline communities are disproportionately affected by climate change,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We invest in programs like these that help make our homes a more climate-resilient and equitable place for our families now, and for Albuquerque’s families to come. .”

The new funds are expected to help more than 60 Albuquerque residents over the next two years. In partnership with Prosperity Works and Energy Works, community liaisons assist homeowners throughout the process, and the range of home upgrades can include replacing windows and doors, insulation and heating, and replacing cooling systems.

“We are proud to have the opportunity to scale what the Environmental Protection Agency has celebrated as a national best practice to serve the neediest and hardest to reach with critical energy efficiency measures,” said Ona Porter of Prosperity Works. “Reducing toxic emissions and household costs while improving the health, safety and comfort of our most vulnerable residents is the intent of this important investment.”

This program builds on the City’s existing CEE projects that launched in 2021 through partner support and a $100,000 City Council allocation. To date, the program has made improvements to 104 homes in the International District, saving residents an average of $300 per year in energy costs.

This project builds on the Keller administration’s substantial work to date on sustainability, including:
• Ranked as the 12th largest municipal green energy user on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Top 30 Local Government List,
• Ranked in the top 4 major U.S. cities for most solar installed per capita according to Environment America’s Shining Cities report,
• Achieved LEED for Cities Silver certification,
• Launched a citywide food waste diversion pilot project,
• Developed the 2021 Albuquerque Climate Action Plan,
• Secured a $2.7 million federal grant to bring the first electric buses to Albuquerque,
• Signed the Paris Agreement committing to climate action,
• Solar energy projects installed at 38 city-owned buildings,
• Expanded the city’s publicly accessible network of electric vehicle charging stations by adding 18 new stations,
• Launch of the Mayor’s Energy Challenge,
• Won the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge with funding for sustainability efforts,
• Made the switch to more sustainable LED street lighting throughout the city,
• Provided more than 200 homes with free energy audits and upgrades in collaboration with PNM and Prosperity Works,
• $600,000 invested in VW settlement financing to expand electric vehicle infrastructure,
• Introduced five new electric buses to the transit fleet and secured financing for 20 additional electric buses,
• Established a permanent Zero Fares program for all ABQ RIDE services,
• Launching the Affordable Mobility Project, a pilot car-sharing program that will prioritize two electric vehicles for low-income drivers;
• Worked with PNM to launch the Solar Direct project to achieve 80% renewable energy use by 2024, and
• Purchase of the first electric vehicles (EVs) for the city’s fleet, and the city committed to replacing gas-powered vehicles with electric vehicles wherever possible.