Richmond, Virginia—Advocates for affordability and healthy communities celebrated as legislation to help low-income households lower their energy bills and improve home safety has passed out of the House Labor and Commerce committee on a vote of 8-1. HB3, sponsored by Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling, would establish a one-year Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force to identify barriers and expand access to energy efficiency upgrades for income-qualified renters and homeowners. The bill will now move to be voted on by the House of Delegates.

“The cost of energy is pushing families to the brink, especially renters, seniors, and people living in manufactured homes,” said Ashleigh Crocker, Interim Executive Director of Progress Virginia. “Establishing an Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Task Force is a critical step toward fairness and affordability. By taking a hard look at what’s working, what isn’t, and why so many households are being left behind, this task force can help ensure that energy efficiency upgrades actually lower monthly bills and improve quality of life. We thank Delegate LeVere Bolling for her leadership and urge lawmakers to continue advancing this commonsense solution.”

The task force established by HB3 will evaluate the accessibility of existing energy efficiency and weatherization resources, identify key barriers preventing participation, and develop solutions to expand whole-home retrofits for income-qualified households, including those living in multifamily and manufactured homes. The goal is to ensure that participants in energy efficiency programs see real, measurable reductions in their monthly utility bills.

Background and Statistics (from the Climate Equity Working Group):

• A household’s “energy burden” is the percentage of income spent on utilities. An energy burden above 6% is considered unaffordable. Virginia has the 10th least affordable residential energy bills in the country, and more than 75% of Virginia households exceed the 6% affordability threshold.
• Residents of manufactured homes face an average energy burden more than 80% higher than those living in site-built homes.
• Renters spend over 30% more per square foot on energy than homeowners because rental units are often older and less energy efficient.
• Nearly 60% of low-income households in Virginia are renter-occupied, meaning families cannot benefit from efficiency upgrades unless landlords choose to invest—something that rarely happens without policy intervention.
• There are an estimated 150,000 low-income homes across the Commonwealth that are strong candidates for energy efficiency retrofits and weatherization repairs.