February 21, 2005 – Lanett, AL – A new $20 million regional initiative announced today will bring critical home repairs, energy efficiency upgrades, and community resilience projects to more than 500 households across Alabama and West Georgia. Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Community Change Grant, this groundbreaking investment will reduce household energy bills by hundreds of dollars a year, strengthen local infrastructure, and establish 10 community resilience centers to protect residents during extreme weather events — creating lasting economic and environmental benefits across multiple counties.
Building a resilient community requires collaboration and investment, and this new $20 million initiative is bringing together local officials, municipal partners, and community business owners across Georgia and Alabama to make it happen. With a focus on energy efficiency, community resilience, and empowerment, the effort will create conditions for long-term economic development in Alabama and West Georgia
The SOUL™ (Save On Utilities Long term) program will provide home safety and energy efficiency upgrades over the next three years, helping households lower electricity bill costs and strengthening resilience against extreme weather. SOUL helps reduce utility bills by enhancing home energy efficiency, particularly focusing on senior citizens and hardworking families facing high energy costs.
Through this initiative, 500 households will benefit from such energy efficiency upgrades as improved insulation and lighting, as well as vital home repairs including heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system upgrades, roof repairs, and the replacement of aging appliances, all through Groundswell’s SOUL program. This funding will direct over $11 million into home improvements, reducing average annual energy burdens by 30% to 65%, improving indoor air quality, and increasing the overall health and safety of homes.
The grant will serve five counties in Alabama and one county in West Georgia. The investment will support the development of community resilience hubs. These hubs will offer vital resources during extreme weather events while also serving as long-term centers of stability and connection. Additionally, they will help local host institutions save on energy costs — an estimated $6,000 per year per building, or more than $100,000 over the hub’s lifespan — allowing those savings to be reinvested into serving the community even more effectively.
“This funding isn’t just about improving homes, it’s about building community power,” said Michelle Moore, CEO of Groundswell. “Groundswell’s initiatives are designed to ensure that our work delivers savings while also strengthening resilience and opportunity for all. By reducing energy burdens, strengthening local infrastructure, and investing in workforce development, we’re creating lasting, sustainable clean energy solutions that directly benefit families across Georgia and Alabama.”
The work will not only improve the lives of residents but also support economic development, creating new opportunities for small businesses and enhancing workforce development opportunities for individuals looking to build careers in energy and home efficiency services.
“Our community is full of hardworking people who deserve homes that are safe, efficient, and affordable to keep running,” said City of Lanett Mayor Jamie Heard. “This grant gives us the chance to make sure folks aren’t struggling to heat their homes in the winter or cool them in the summer. Investing in our residents and their homes means investing in our local workforce, and that’s a win for everyone.”
With past success improving more than 100 homes in Georgia, Groundswell is now expanding into Alabama to ensure that families have access to safe, affordable, and energy-efficient living conditions.
As extreme weather events become more frequent, the need for resilient infrastructure and energy efficiency solutions has never been more urgent. Through the SOUL™ program, Groundswell and its partners are ensuring that hardworking communities have the support and resources needed to weather the storms ahead.
For more information on Groundswell’s energy resilience initiatives, visit groundswell.org.
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About Groundswell
Groundswell builds community power to improve local resilience for everyone and cut electricity bills in half for our neighbors who need savings the most. We use community solar, resilience hubs, and energy efficiency to preserve affordable housing, strengthen the grid, and support local economic development. Our people-centric and place-based programs are tailored to deliver tangible benefits and align with the local priorities across the Heartland, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast. Groundswell leverages our SolMateTM data platform to enable scale while ensuring measurable success. We’re on track to deliver over $29 million in annual energy savings to more than 36,000 families and deploy more than 40 resilience hubs across 12 states by 2030.