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Sept. 28, 2021

Peninsula Clean Energy Launches Income-Qualified Home Upgrade Program

Provides turnkey, no-cost electrification, efficiency and other improvements 

Peninsula Clean Energy has launched an effort to provide income-qualified San Mateo County residents with no-cost appliance electrification, energy-efficiency and other home repairs and upgrades.  

The Home Upgrade Program will focus on critical needs for income-qualified residents who own single-family homes that use methane gas or propane for heating or cooking and who would otherwise be unable to afford the repairs and upgrades. These upgrades include both clean electrification and efficiency as well as other repairs to improve the health and safety of the homes. 

It will fill gaps left by existing income-qualified programs that either do not fund certain electrification or other health and safety improvements, or do not cover all or most of the cost of the install. Eligible upgrades include window and door repair and replacement; stairs and hand railing repairs; replacing old carpet with flooring; removing mold, asbestos and other hazards; and installing electric appliances, such as heat pump water heaters and dryers. Peninsula Clean Energy’s program will also leverage other programs to maximize the extent of the home improvements.  

The goal is to assist 200 homes over two years, at an expected average budget per home of $6,500.The first 20 homes upgraded in the program will help establish additional program structure that can be used moving forward, including standardized processes, contractor and other cost data.  

“Investing in underserved communities is a critical part of Peninsula Clean Energy’s strategy to curb carbon emissions within San Mateo County and reflects our efforts to ensure that the benefits of doing so are shared equitably,” said San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine, who is also the founding chair of the Peninsula Clean Energy Board of Directors. “Through this effort, residents will benefit from valuable home repairs and energy efficiency upgrades while helping to inform how a longer-term investment program can improve and expand.” 

“Cleaner and safer homes should be a right for all of our residents,” said Ortensia Lopez, executive director of El Concilio of San Mateo County. “As we move toward electrification as part of a cleaner economy, we must ensure that low-income residents are not left behind in the transition.” 

To apply for the program and for more information on eligibility and other details, visit https://www.peninsulacleanenergy.com/home-upgrade-program/. 

 

About Peninsula Clean Energy

Peninsula Clean Energy is a Community Choice Aggregation agency. It is the official electricity provider for San Mateo County and, beginning in 2022, for the City of Los Banos. Founded in 2016 with a mission to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the county, the agency serves 295,000 customers by providing more than 3,500 gigawatt hours annually of electricity that is 100 percent carbon-free and at lower cost than PG&E. As a community-led, not-for-profit agency, Peninsula Clean Energy makes significant investments in its communities to expand access to sustainable and affordable energy solutions. Peninsula Clean Energy is on track to deliver electricity that is 100 percent renewable by 2025. The agency has earned investment grade credit ratings from Moody’s and Fitch.

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