Kentucky was the first recipient.
(Story courtesy of Kentucky)
FRANKFORT, Kentucky (KT) – Kentucky is one of 14 states and territories receiving grants from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers (SERC) program to weatherize low-income homes, it was announced Wednesday.
The Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) has been awarded over $3.2 million through the DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program.
The KHC is responding to recent natural disasters by improving residential resilience through its SERC project. The KHC plans to implement two key technologies: rooftop solar panels, including necessary electrical upgrades and staff training, and double-pane windows with a U-value of 0.25. These measures aim to increase the energy resilience of already weatherized homes and reduce energy costs, reduce the financial burden on low-income households, and improve climate resilience. 19 Community Action and similar organizations in Kentucky are sub-beneficiaries of the funding.
These projects are funded through the bipartisan infrastructure bill and help realize the Biden-Harris administrations’ vision of providing access to clean energy for all Americans. The Department of Energy expects the projects to specifically benefit disadvantaged communities through new partnerships with public and private entities that will reduce the energy burden on low-income families and create good-paying clean energy jobs.
“As the nation grapples with extreme weather exacerbated by climate change, the Biden-Harris administration is ensuring that Americans across the country, regardless of income, have access to the clean energy tools that make their homes more resilient and efficient,” said Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm. “We are bringing new technologies and flexibility to the Department’s longstanding Weatherization Assistance Program, investing in more low-income households, and creating more clean energy jobs.”
The SERC program has been in existence for three years, but this is the first time Kentucky has been a beneficiary.
This latest round of funding will award $53.6 million nationwide. Other states and territories receiving grants include Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
