To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $9,950.00 from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, to amend the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the Office of Sustainability called the “USDN Catalyst Fund for Building Capacity for Energy Resilience in Richmond’s Public Housing Communities Special Fund,” and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the Office of Sustainability’s “USDN Catalyst Fund for Building Capacity for Energy Resilience in Richmond’s Public Housing Communities Special Fund” by $9,950.00 for the purpose of building energy resilience at Whitcomb Court in the city’s East End.
Summary
The City of Richmond is authorized to accept $9,950.00 from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) to fund a pilot project focused on building energy resilience in public housing communities. This funding will be used to create a new special fund, the “USDN Catalyst Fund for Building Capacity for Energy Resilience in Richmond’s Public Housing Communities Special Fund,” within the Office of Sustainability. The project will specifically target Whitcomb Court in the city's East End, involving energy usage data tracking, energy conservation measures, resident education, and energy assessments. This initiative directly supports the RVAgreen 2050 Climate Equity Action Plan's objectives for energy efficiency and reducing the energy burden on vulnerable communities. The project is a six-month pilot, scheduled to run from September 15, 2025, to February 28, 2026, and involves collaboration with the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority (RRHA).
Residents at Whitcomb Court can expect initiatives aimed at improving energy efficiency and resilience, potentially leading to reduced energy costs and improved living conditions. This project also serves as a foundational step for broader energy resilience planning in public housing.
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