HUD Announces New Renewable Energy Partnerships

HUD recently announced that 27 affordable housing providers and service providers across the nation have committed to installing more than 150 megawatts of on-site renewable energy, more than doubling the amount of renewable energy on HUD-assisted multifamily buildings.

“Thanks to the leadership of our multifamily partners and developers, we are on track to meet and surpass President Obama’s challenge to reach 100 megawatts of on-site renewable energy on affordable housing by 2020,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

The new renewable energy partnerships will create jobs while cutting carbon pollution and come in response to the president’s call to action as part of the White House Solar Summit last month and the Better Buildings Initiative the president launched in 2011. Additionally, the new executive actions recently announced by President Obama will bolster investment in energy upgrades in homes and federal buildings, strengthen appliance standards and building codes, and build a skilled solar workforce.

Together, the president’s executive actions will account for $2 billion in energy-efficiency investments in federal buildings; smarter appliances that will cut carbon pollution by more than 380 million metric tons—equivalent to taking 80 million cars off the road for one year—and will save businesses nearly $26 billion on their energy bills; and training programs at community colleges across the country that will help 50,000 workers enter the solar industry by 2020.