Bright Power, Inc. announces its strong support for creation of the Disadvantaged Community (DAC) designation in New York State as defined by the Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG). These are communities that suffer from negative public health effects, environmental pollution, impacts of climate change, and possess certain socioeconomic criteria, or comprise high-concentrations of low- and moderate- income households.*
These identified disadvantaged communities will now directly benefit from state funding and incentive programs as NY works towards its emissions reduction goals. While the utilities and NYSERDA offer excellent programs for low income housing, Bright Power believes the DAC-specific funding will be an opportunity to help expand incentives to underserved sectors, such as naturally-occurring affordable housing and commercial businesses serving low income communities.
Bright Power is heavily focused on improving properties located in DACs. New York State has identified 1,721 DAC’s across the state and more than 60% of the properties that Bright Power works with are in these locations.
Three of Bright Power’s recently completed projects - Chestnut Commons, Vital Brookdale and Whitney Young Manor - are all located in DAC territory and Harlem River Houses, a NYCHA RAD conversion that will be started soon, is also located in DAC territory.
“For over 17 years, Bright Power has worked tirelessly to serve low income housing in New York, California, and across the country. Over 60% of our clients are located within the draft DAC territory, and our efforts to serve these properties would not have been possible without the many incentive programs designed to meet the needs of low income housing,” said Amanda Clevinger, Policy and Programs Manager, Bright Power.
“Bright Power is supportive of the DAC process - it will ensure that subsidies get to the people that need it most. We’ve found that specialized incentives for low income communities are essential not only for deeply affordable projects, but for moderately affordable ones too.”
“We look forward to being able to extend our energy management services to more low income communities, providing them with healthy environments that are more comfortable living spaces and better for the planet,” said Jeff Perlman, Founder and CEO, Bright Power. “We are very impressed New York State is undertaking the most ambitious effort in the U.S. to meet the challenge of climate change and we are honored to support the initiative.”
