An Energy Efficiency Program is Coming to Richmond!

This past Monday, May 11th, Richmond City Council unanimously voted to pass Resolution 2026-R003, which calls on the City to design and implement an energy efficiency program that serves Richmond residents. C3, alongside community members and partners, advocated for months to see this program established. It’s an important step forward for our City; the program will help households save on their energy bills, make homes safer and more efficient, and reduce pollution from energy use. Learn more below!

Why does Richmond need an energy efficiency program?

Virginia is at the forefront of growing energy demands and rising energy costs, driven in part by a surge in data centers and volatile gas prices. As of 2025, nearly one-third of Richmond households are energy-burdened, meaning they pay more than 6% of their income on utility bills. This worsens rising housing costs in our City and forces people to make tradeoffs between utilities and other basic needs. Weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades can reduce energy burden by up to 25% and can save households hundreds of dollars annually on their energy bills. They can also improve and stabilize existing housing stock to help folks afford to stay in their neighborhoods, as well as provide health and quality of life benefits. Policies and programs tailored to serving renters are needed in particular, since the City’s existing home repair funds are limited to homeowners. 

Check out our energy efficiency and program FAQ HERE to learn more. 

What will the program do?

If successfully implemented, the program will reduce energy burden and costs for income-qualified households in Richmond City through direct services, education and outreach, and expanding energy resilience. The resolution commits the City to expanding staff capacity, improving coordination across departments, integrating energy resilience infrastructure into public buildings, and ultimately offering weatherization and energy efficiency retrofits to a higher number of community members. The program will include the localization of Virginia’s Energy Connects program, which acts as an online resource hub for those looking for financial support and tools. Since the new program will include renters and small businesses, the City is tasked to identify program targets and funding pathways that ensure these underserved groups benefit from energy efficiency initiatives. To ensure Richmond creates the program our community wants to see, advocates and community members will need to stay involved and hold the City accountable. 

What’s next?

The City Administration, including departments such as the Office of Sustainability and the Department of Public Utilities, has 180 days to draft a plan to present to City Council. This will include a framework for the program, as well as processes to identify potential funding sources. The Office of Sustainability will also hire a new Energy Efficiency Coordinator in the coming months to oversee the launch of the program. 

While the passage of the resolution is a key first step, it’s only the beginning! C3 will continue to engage with the program throughout the planning and implementation process, advocating for a holistic and equitable program that prioritizes energy-burdened residents. We want you to join us! Sign up for our newsletter for updates and advocacy opportunities: