Google broke ground on a $4 billion data center in West Memphis last year and part of that project was a $25 million fund to help scale energy efficiency in the city and surrounding areas. The company announced Tuesday (April 28) that two organizations would be the first recipients of funds from the West Memphis Energy Impact Fund.
About $1.26 million will be doled from the fund this year.
“The most effective community investments are grounded in true partnership,” said Katie Ottenweller, Regional Head of Energy Market Development from Google. “We are thrilled to announce our first partners in this important work of lowering energy costs and improving the health and resilience of homes in West Memphis and surrounding communities. We’re grateful to our partners and the inaugural council members for their leadership in creating a sustainable, affordable energy future for West Memphis and the Greater Memphis region.”
Crowley’s Ridge Development Council will help make homes weatherization ready. They will address health and safety barriers such as roof leaks or electrical hazards that often prevent low-income households from qualifying for federal energy programs.
After the homes are repaired using Google funding, CRDC will apply federal Weatherization Assistance Program and LIHEAP funds that they administer to make the homes more energy efficient.
“This partnership represents a transformational opportunity for our region. By working alongside a global innovator like Google, we are not only strengthening infrastructure in West Memphis and Crittenden County; we are also creating long-term economic growth and a stronger future for Northeast Arkansas,” said Jeremy Wooldridge, CEO of Crowley’s Ridge Development Council.
Another organization, Groundswell is partnering directly with the City of West Memphis to establish a new pipeline for home energy improvements. Like CRDC, Groundswell will focus on the dual-need of repairing homes so they are stable enough to receive high-impact energy efficiency upgrades and then upgrade the energy efficiency of the homes.
Working together, Google ICF, and Entergy Arkansas will support approximately 200 residents whose homes need critical pre-weatherization repairs. By aligning the fund with Entergy Arkansas’s Low-Income Solutions (LIS) program, Google’s investment will fund a combination of pre-weatherization (critical structural repairs) and weatherization (efficiency upgrades). Google and these partners are bridging a critical gap for utility customers who were previously ineligible for energy-saving upgrades due to the condition of their homes.
“Entergy Arkansas is excited to continue to partner with Google and ICF to bring this opportunity to Crittenden County. The Energy Impact Fund is a direct investment in projects that will have a lasting impact on these communities,” said Entergy Arkansas President and CEO Laura Landreaux. “We are honored to work with customers who are just as committed as we are to helping build a stronger, more vibrant future for the next generation.”
