Atlanta is betting big on clean energy, and Mayor Andre Dickens is leading the charge with the announcement of a new $500,000 investment into the city's Clean Energy Plan. According to details released by the City of Atlanta, Dickens green-lit the establishment of the Atlanta Community Energy Trust Fund, pledging to reduce the energy burden for local households.
The cash infusion, initially earmarked for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, has now been redirected by the Atlanta City Council, who took a bold step, bumping the transfer amount up from $300,000 to half a million dollars, with Councilmembers Liliana Bakhtiari and Alex Wan guiding this legislative ship through the council's waters. The fund will fuel efforts to meet Atlanta's ambitious target of 100% clean energy by 2035—a cornerstone of Dickens' eco-friendly vision for the metropolis.
Speaking about the fund, Mayor Dickens said, "Close to 50,000 households are energy burdened within our city, and we are constantly searching for ways to help," in a statement obtained by the City of Atlanta's official website. He further emphasized his administration's commitment to innovative solutions designed to chop down energy costs and consumption in city buildings.
The Office of Sustainability and Resilience will handle the fund, a department known for its prowess in supporting clean projects across the Atlanta. Chief Sustainability Officer Chandra Farley, calling for swift and coordinated action, lauded the creation of the fund, "From a public health benefit, job creation, economic development and equity lens, we will now have an additional mechanism to achieving the clean energy goals set by Mayor Dickens." Engulfed with passion for Atlanta's sustainable future, Farley's office is expected to spearhead the charge into a cleaner, greener horizon, as reported by the City of Atlanta.
With future deposits anticipated from various sources, such as city coffers, sales of renewable energy credits, and Uncle Sam’s wallet, the Atlanta Community Energy Trust Fund sets the stage for a city intent on not just surviving but thriving in the face of environmental challenges.
