SCHUMER ANNOUNCES NEARLY $983,000 FOR JAMESTOWN THROUGH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT TO HELP LOWER UTILITY COSTS FOR FAMILIES, MODERNIZE HOMES IN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS, AND BOOST AFFORDABLE CLEAN ENERGY IN WNY
Schumer Says Fed $$$ Will Allow City of Jamestown To Increase Number Of Energy-Efficient Homes In Underserved WNY Communities – Lowering Energy Costs With Ecofriendly Upgrades Like Heat Pumps And Improved Weatherization
Schumer Secured Historic Investments For Environmental Justice In The Inflation Reduction Act – The Largest Climate Investment In U.S. History – With Communities Like Jamestown In Mind; Now, Nearly $983K Is Heading To WNY To Help Tackle Climate Change And Lower Costs For Homeowners
Schumer: The Inflation Reduction Act Is Building A Cleaner, More Affordable Future For Jamestown!
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced nearly $983,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Environmental Justice Government-to-Government program to support the City of Jamestown’s efforts to increase energy-efficient housing in underserved neighborhoods. Schumer said this funding was made possible thanks to the historic investments he secured for environmental justice in the Inflation Reduction Act. This funding will help Jamestown ensure underserved communities have access to energy-efficient, upgraded housing to lower energy costs and help fight climate change.
“More energy efficient housing and lower utility costs will soon be heading to homes across Jamestown thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. When I led the Inflation Reduction Act to passage, promoting clean energy for communities in Jamestown and across Western NY were at the top of my mind. I am proud to help deliver this major federal investment to power Upstate NY’s clean energy future,” said Senator Schumer. “Investments like these are a blueprint for how we can lower costs for families, all while fighting climate change, and making our neighborhoods cleaner for all. Jamestown, you’ll be saying home sweet home soon, with more modern energy efficient homes in neighborhoods that need it most.”
“The alternative energy upgrades provided to the selected homes through this initiative will serve as a valuable starting point in the City’s ongoing efforts to achieve environmental justice for our most vulnerable and disadvantaged residents,” said City of Jamestown, Mayor Eddie Sundquist. “These upgraded, weatherized homes will be offered through a non-traditional home buyers’ program that will not only lead to increased neighborhood renewal efforts, but also provide measurable results from both a public health and environmental perspective.”
Specifically, funding will go towards Jamestown’s “Retooling Homes for Improved Air Quality” initiative. The City will work collaboratively with community-based nonprofit organizations to improve the air quality of homes by reducing indoor toxins and pollutants, energy burden, and energy loss in homes in underserved neighborhoods. These partnerships will allow the City to perform energy efficiency audits in underserved communities and develop plans to make energy efficient upgrades to help lower costs for residents. The project partners include Jamestown’s Department of Development, Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency, Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corporation (CHRIC), and Healthy at Home CHQ.
Schumer explained that when he led the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the largest climate investment in U.S. history, through Congress, he made sure historic funding would go towards environmental justice initiatives to uplift community-based organizations focused on public health and environmental impacts, promote environmental equity, and make sure communities across the country could live in a cleaner and healthier environment. As part of the IRA, the EPA awarded over $128 million for environmental justice projects in communities across the country. Additionally, Schumer recently secured over $17 million in DOE funding through his Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for the Jamestown Board Of Public Utilities (JBPU) to create a new microgrid system, helping Jamestown improve their electric infrastructure to alleviate power outages and provide electricity for public services, schools, hospitals, and more during emergency situations like snowstorms.
The Environmental Justice Government-to-Government (EJG2G) program provides funding at the state, local, territorial, and tribal level to support government activities that lead to measurable environmental or public health impacts in communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms. The EJG2G program will strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency’s relationships with state, local, territorial, and tribal governments to maximize federal investments in their local communities and be better prepared to address future environmental challenges. You can learn more about the program here.
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