Making the Most of a Merger

Earlier this year, Todd Nedwick shared Energy Efficiency for All’s strategy of “being at the table.” This strategy recently resulted in success during the Washington Gas and Light - AltaGas merger in both Maryland and Washington, D.C.

The National Housing Trust’s energy efficiency team successfully negotiated a commitment with WGL to invest a total of $8.8 million to make energy efficiency improvements in housing for low-income Maryland and D.C. residents. These investments include $4.6 million in Maryland, focusing on Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, and $4.2 million in D.C.

In addition to the $4.2 million in D.C., NHT secured a commitment from WGL that it will actively support Earned-Income Tax Credit (EITC) outreach through both in-kind contributions and a financial commitment of $250,000 to the D.C. EITC Campaign.

This successful negotiation was made possible with the help of the Capital Area Asset Builders (CAAB), who helped NHT convince WGL to make this investment. Support for this work comes from Citi Community Development, who is supporting NHT’s energy efficiency work in the Washington D.C. area, and the JPB Foundation.

This negotiation demonstrates an innovative way that a utility can support low-income communities, and NHT hopes it will set a precedent for other utilities to do the same.

For more information on NHT’s energy efficiency work or the Energy Efficiency for All Initiative, please contact NHT Housing and Energy Efficiency Director Todd Nedwick.