Low-Income Residents Saving Money While Saving Energy

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Cutting your utility bill in half and helping the planet all at the same time -- that's the goal of a new Baltimore solar program.

This is a partnership between the City of Baltimore and both the US Department of Energy and the Maryland Clean Energy Center. Their targeting low-income residents in the city. This claims to deliver both financial and environmental benefits.

The solar panels are going up and the owner is ready to see the utility savings kick-in.

"I'm on a fixed income and I'm getting old and they're not going to raise my income," said homeowner Mirrel Sims, who has lived in her home for 44 years.

Sims' home was one of 26 homes in Baltimore City to have solar panels installed with the help of the nations largest non-profit solar installer, exclusively working with low or fixed income home owners, Grid Alternatives Mid-Atlantic.

This comes as the City of Baltimore develops a low-income solar program, helping lower utility bills by 50%.

"Those folks in Baltimore who are at the lowest level of income, spend more than 40% of their gross house income on energy and we have the ability to change that."

"Solar helps communities avoid green house gas admissions, reduce air pollution that is harmful to public help, lower energy costs and create local jobs," said Anna Hofmann, Clean Energy Fellow, Environment Maryland.

It's said homes and businesses with solar, provide pollution free energy that delivers far reaching benefits, one Sims hopes to pass on to next generations.

"There is so much pollution in the air. I have grand children and great grand children and I hope this will help, it should help," said Mirrel Sims.

This past may, the one millionth solar array was installed here in the US.

For more information on how to get solar panels on your home, click here.

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