* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Middleton
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
Coordinating Resources to Effectively Align and Transform Energy Services
FOR the purpose of requesting that representatives from the agencies leading up the City's expanded energy assistance efforts through the CREATES program appear before the Council to discuss CREATES and the new opportunities it will provide in Baltimore.
body
Recitals
In August the City began accepting millions of dollars from Exelon's State-mandated Customer Investment Fund (CIF) to be used for energy saving programs in Baltimore. City government will eventually receive nearly $53 million for its Coordinating Resources to Effectively Align and Transform Energy Services (CREATES) program. $17 million more from the CIF will also be going to fund energy assistance programs at two Baltimore based nonprofits as well.
The multiple awards to CREATES from the CIF will support eight mutually reinforcing initiatives that together will assist tens of thousands of Baltimoreans. The funded initiatives include financing for co-generation facilities at the City's wastewater treatment plants, urban heat island mitigation efforts, energy efficiency assistance for city non-profits and others serving low income populations, improved weatherization capabilities for low-income residences, distribution of programmable thermostats and energy efficient light bulbs, widespread energy efficiency education, improved coordination and case management to assist households with chronic energy payment difficulties, and support for the Baltimore Energy Challenge.
Taken as a whole, the CREATES program, and the infusion of CIF funding for Baltimore's energy assistance efforts, will put our ability to meet the City's energy goals into a whole new gear. In order to get the most out of these new capabilities it is important that new and existing efforts be well coordinated, as envisioned under the CREATES plan, and that the public at large be well informed about the expanded energy opportunities.
CREATES includes funding and planning for extensive outreach, but no opportunity for publicizing the expanded menu of energy initiatives should be lost. These efforts deserve the full support of the City Council and the inroads to our communities that Councilmembers can provide. Further community support can also be leveraged by making use of the opportunity for publicity and direct communication between CREATES leadership and both Councilmembers and the general public that a formal Council hearing can provide.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Council requests that representatives from the agencies leading up the City's expanded energy assistance efforts through the CREATES program appear before it to discuss CREATES and the new opportunities it will provide in Baltimore.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Director of General Services, the Housing Commissioner, the Planning Director, the Director of the Office of Sustainability, the Director of the Mayor's Office of Human Services, the Executive Director of the Commission On Aging and Retirement Education, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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