Sarbanes Joins White House Officials, Energy Secretary Moniz, Labor Secretary Perez to Bring More Solar Energy to Baltimore

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined several Obama Administration officials, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Mayor-Elect Catherine Pugh to highlight a new public-private initiative between the City of Baltimore, the Department of Energy and the Maryland Clean Energy Center that will enhance home weatherization and install solar panels on at least 1,000 low-income homes throughout the city.

“By helping Baltimore residents finance home weatherization upgrades and install solar panels, we can lower energy bills, improve indoor health and increase the city’s renewable energy capacity,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “Creating a strong market for solar installation also spurs new job opportunities across the city. To that end, this public-private partnership will create job-training programs in Baltimore that help residents acquire the skills needed to join the solar-energy workforce.”

In July, Congressman Sarbanes announced a new agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy, the Maryland Clean Energy Center and the City of Baltimore to help homeowners in Baltimore install solar panels and improve the weatherization of their homes. The program will also support job training for unemployed or underemployed community members to become a part of the renewable energy industry workforce. Today, the new initiative is in full swing and leaders at the federal, state and local levels announced solar energy and workforce goals, as well as new tools to provide sustainable financing for low-income solar installations.

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