Prosperity Works, Town of Bernalillo, City of Albuquerque, and more, celebrate Energy Equity Day

January 18, 2023, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – Prosperity Works along with the Town of Bernalillo leadership, a City of Albuquerque City Councilor, and other community partners will be celebrating Energy Equity Day, tomorrow, January 19, 2023, at 1PM at the Town of Bernalillo Library. This press conference and celebration will feature the reading of proclamations from both the Town of Bernalillo and City of Albuquerque leadership and the media is invited to attend.

Prosperity Works is proud to launch the first of many energy efficiency audits and retrofits within Bernalillo, that help limited-income individuals lower their energy bills. Through surveys, Prosperity Works has found that many limited-income households defer food, medicine, and medical care in order to pay their utility bills.  Energy efficiency retrofits include such things as: 

• Energy-efficient lighting and power strips
• ​Weatherstripping
• Faucet aerators
• Smart thermostats
• Air duct sealing and attic insulation
• Refrigerator replacements for very old units
• Introduction to Community Solar 

“Today we are excited to continue our work to address the unequal burden that energy costs place on lower-income households within the Town of Bernalillo after seeing great success with our program in Albuquerque, ” said Prosperity Works CEO, Dr. Ann Lyn Hall. “These energy upgrades will not only help lower bills for limited-income families but also allow them to focus on their health and financial freedom.” 

Through capital stacking and partnerships with local city governments, the PNM Good Neighborhood Fund, the New Mexico Gas Company, and EnergyWorks, Prosperity Works offers these energy efficiency upgrades at no cost to homeowners. 

“The Town is proud to announce our first-ever Energy Equity Day Celebration. Together with our partners at PNM, NM GAS CO., and Prosperity Works, we will provide resources to community members to improve the quality of life in their homes and help reduce costs and carbon emissions,” said Jack Torres, Mayor of Bernalillo.  “We are grateful to these partners for offering these wonderful benefits to Bernalillo residents.” 

“We’re keeping equity in the front seat of our strategies outlined by the Climate Action Plan,” said City of Albuquerque Sustainability Officer, Kelsey Rader. “Our frontline communities face the highest energy burdens, and we are taking steps with our community partners to ensure equitable access to energy efficiency upgrades and more to build a climate resilient future for all.”

About Prosperity Works
Prosperity Works is an economic equity and justice organization that is best known for launching the first Individual Development Account initiative in New Mexico and for the award-winning Prosperity Kids program. The organization is committed to fighting for greater financial inclusion and opportunity for all New Mexicans. Key areas of advocacy include providing equitable access to renewable energy for income-restricted families, bringing awareness to community programs and organizations designed to help limited-income individuals, and developing financial capability training and coaching for all New Mexicans.

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