Congresswoman Clark tours Malden home weatherized with funds from new Infrastructure Act

  Congresswoman Katherine Clark, U.S. Senator Ed Markey, Congresswoman Lori Trahan and U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm recently toured the home of Malden resident Cindy Yu, which was recently weatherized using funds from the new Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

  “Cindy’s story highlights the core purpose of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – investing directly in American families to lower costs and build a stronger, more sustainable future. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is the game changer we’ve been waiting for,” said Clark during the December 3 visit to Yu’s home. “With this new law, families, especially low-income families, will increase their energy efficiency and save money through reduced energy bills while collectively strengthening our climate resiliency as a nation. I’m grateful to Secretary Granholm and my Massachusetts colleagues for coming to Malden to highlight the importance of this critical program to our economic recovery and our future.”

  Signed into law by President Joe Biden on November 15, the Act calls for an infusion of $3.5 billion into the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program. The investment is intended to cut energy costs by $283 per year for single-family homes and reduce the carbon footprint by 2.2 million tons per year as well as create and maintain approximately 8,500 jobs.

  “Cindy is one of millions of people across the country who has taken advantage of the Weatherization Assistance Program,” said Granholm. “That funding just got a lot bigger. What does it mean? It means that our house is warm.”

  The efficiency upgrades were completed by Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc. (CAPIC) and Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD).

  Yu said her first experience with the Weatherization Assistance Program came last winter when her boiler broke. “I called ABCD and CAPIC for help,” she said. “They came in and helped us, which was awesome. With my two little babies, it means a lot for our family.”

  Markey lauded Yu for reaching out to ABCD and CAPIC. “My neighbor Cindy Yu partnered with CAPIC, Inc. and ABCD to weatherize her home and help her family save on energy costs,” he said. “She’s a sustainability leader for Malden and for the whole country. This $3.5 billion that we have is going to be used across the country, especially in the poorest communities, and $7 billion dollars for low-income heating assistance.”