WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $45,708,416 in federal funding to help Marylanders lower utility costs by making energy efficient upgrades to their homes. The lawmakers helped secure this federal funding through the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The funds will improve the health, safety, and economic wellbeing of Marylanders, especially for low-income households and vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, saving households on average $372 or more every year. Funding was provided through the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program and will be delivered to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development’s Housing and Building Energy Programs.
“As Americans face the pressures of higher costs, making energy-efficient improvements to their homes can help lower their utility bills and save their hard-earned money. This investment not only benefits Marylanders’ pocketbooks, but also protects public health, improves energy efficiency, and creates jobs in our communities. Simply put, this is a win-win for Maryland homeowners and our environment. Investments like these are exactly why we fought to pass the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act,” the lawmakers said.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes, while ensuring health and safety. As the nation’s single largest residential whole-house energy efficiency program, WAP has created an industry producing new jobs and technologies while helping the most vulnerable families across the country. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is making historic investments in WAP and American infrastructure and providing more than $7 billion directly to Maryland. These investments will help strengthen climate resilience, improve our environment, create good-paying American jobs, and rebuild and repair our roads, bridges, transit systems, and more.
