I am writing today representing myself but also to share the impact we have made at Community Housing Partners (CHP) Energy Solutions to the communities and families we serve through the Weatherization Deferral Repair (WDR) funded through Virginia's participation in RGGI.

Since the launch of WDR in July 2021, CHP - just one of 15 Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) providers throughout the Commonwealth - has had the privilege of serving 504 income-qualifying families with home repairs needed before energy efficiency and weatherization services can be safely and effectively be installed. These families often spend more than 13.9-percent of their annual income on utility costs - compared to 3.0-percent for most households. After weatherization services, those families save an average of 27-percent of their utility costs annually.

Without WDR, these families would have been deferred from receiving weatherization service just like the 20-percent of weatherization applicants before the launch of WDR. Now these families are able to receive money- and energy-saving weatherization services in addition to the home repairs, allowing qualifying families - often elderly - to remain in their home and age in place.

In just 20 months of the programs existence, CHP has coordinated approximately 1,900 repairs across the homes served using a network of more than 50 trade contractors throughout the Commonwealth. CHP has more than 250 families in queue for services and receive approximately 15 new cases each week.

There is not only a severe need for the WDR program but a real economic opportunity for trade contractors to grow their operations, stimulate their local economies, and serve residents in their service territories more equitably.

WDR is only one facet of the energy saving programs funded by RGGI in addition to the increasingly necessary flood resiliency programs funded by RGGI, all while incentivizing reduced carbon emission in Virginia. Please honor the namesake of the Board and control air pollution by rejecting the repeal of RGGI, and enabling mission-driven organizations like CHP to better serve Virginians.