Mayor Andre Dickens announced a significant step in advancing his Clean Energy Plan agenda by authorizing the establishment of the Atlanta Community Energy Trust Fund and transferring $500,000 from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to kickstart the initiative.

Introduced on behalf of the Dickens Administration by Councilmembers Liliana Bakhtiari and Alex Wan, and passed favorably by the Atlanta City Council, this fund will support clean energy projects and strategies identified within the Clean Energy Plan, aimed at reducing energy burdens on households within the City of Atlanta. The Atlanta City Council increased the original amount of the transfer from $300,000 to $500,000. This latest initiative aligns with Mayor Dickens’ goal of reaching 100% clean energy by 2035. 

“Close to 50,000 households are energy burdened within our city, and we are constantly searching for ways to help,” said Mayor Dickens. “We are following a strategic roadmap to reduce overall energy consumption and emissions within the City’s buildings and the Atlanta Community Energy Trust fund will allow for innovative solutions and swifter action as we focus on energy efficiency solutions.” 

“The creation of this fund comes at a critical juncture as our team focuses on clean energy projects that have a multitude of benefits,”said Chief Sustainability Officer Chandra Farley. “From a public health benefit, job creation, economic development and equity lens, we will now have an additional mechanism to achieving the clean energy goals set by Mayor Dickens.”  

The fund will be managed by the Office of Sustainability and Resilience, which serves as the City’s arm to support clean projects. Future funds will be added from a variety of sources, including city appropriations, revenue generated from the sale of renewable energy credits and federal funding opportunities.