The Phoenix City Council unanimously approved its first version of an Energy Access Plan.
It provides a broad checklist of city actions with the goal of getting more residents to join low income energy assistance programs.
Officials say more than 82,000 households in Phoenix experience an energy financial burden, posing risks not just in the hot weather months but year-round.
This plan addresses a city goal adopted earlier this year to have a 25% increase in participation in already established assistance programs by 2030.
Some council members found the plan to be too broad, though the city’s Carla De La Chapa says that is intentional.
“This is our first iteration of the Energy Access Plan. It is intended to be updated and improved as we go along and gather more community input. We wanted to focus on actions that we could implement and execute with our current partners very quickly by 2030," De La Chapa said.
The plan lists actions such as diversifying funding sources for current programs, and improving solar access like building pilot programs.
The city hopes to get 18,000 additional households signed up.
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