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Green New Deal policies and housing policies are beginning to merge.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), announced yesterday the launch of their “Green New Deal for Public Housing.”
This bill promises $180 billion over 10 years to cut carbon dioxide emissions from public housing across the country.
According to CNBC, roughly 40% of total U.S. energy consumption comes from residential and commercial buildings. The legislation could reduce public housing costs by $97 million per year and cut energy costs by $613 million.
“Representative Ocasio-Cortez introduced the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act to establish a prosperous society that provides affordable and modern housing for all,” according to Ocasio-Cortez’s website.
“This legislation serves to train and mobilize the workforce to decarbonize the public housing stock and improve the quality of life for all. It is time that our government invests in our infrastructure, our people, and our future.”
With this promise, solar panels will be added to public housing units as well as other renewable energy resources.
The bill will establish seven federal grant programs to public housing authorities to rehabilitate, upgrade, innovate and transition public housing into zero-carbon homes.
Earlier this year, Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), revealed a Green New Deal resolution, targeting climate change itself.
Sen Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is also a co-sponsor of the housing legislation.
