Richmond receives $250K grant to advance clean energy, create jobs

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The city of Richmond is looking to advance its energy future, including creating new jobs and lowering energy prices, through a newly awarded $250,000 grant.

City officials announced on Friday, Dec. 19, that the city, in partnership with the Community Climate Collaborative (C3), was selected to be one of the 52 initial cohort communities to receive a grant from the Coalition for Green Capital's Municipal Investment Fund (MIF).

The MIF helps communities across the U.S. develop a pipeline of clean energy and water infrastructure projects that help create jobs, unlock private investment, lower costs and improve the quality of life, according to its website.

The city and C3 partnership was selected as part of a "highly competitive, nationwide strategy," per the release. The partnership looks to build a self-sustaining market for clean solar and battery power.

“Clean energy, like solar power and battery storage, has tremendous economic benefits, but it remains out of reach for a wide swath of our community members. As tax credits expire, we need to look ahead to community-level financing solutions that make solar and battery storage available to those who currently can’t afford them," said Coles Jennings, C3 director of corporate responsibility, in the release.

Jennings added, "Richmond’s MIF award will enable the City to engage a wide array of
stakeholders in creating these financing programs, and planning to get them in the hands of the
residents and businesses that are most in need of lower bills and backup power."

City officials and C3 will work on a public-private partnership plan that will connect private investment and government support to grow the area's solar and battery power market over the next six months, per the release.

If you have an interest in Richmond's solar capabilities, reach out to the project team.

Richmond is on a green path toward its RVAgreen 2050 goals. The initiative includes using more renewable energy to power buildings, reducing carbon emissions and advancing public and environmentally friendly transportation, among other goals.