SACRAMENTO BEE: SMUD GETS $3 MILLION TO UPGRADE HUNDREDS OF HOMES IN THIS SACRAMENTO NEIGHBORHOOD

A project to electrify hundreds of homes in Sacramento’s Meadowview neighborhood will get millions of dollars in new federal funding to launch the program.

The $3 million for Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Neighborhood Electrification Project will electrify as many as 300 homes in Meadowview, the utility company said. Upgrades will include induction stoves and smart thermostats, heat pump space heaters and water heaters along with chargers for electric vehicles, where feasible.

With it, SMUD officials say they are working with community groups to recruit residents into the program, raise community awareness of clean energy options and develop training and jobs to support the emerging sector.

U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui, D-Sacramento, secured funding for the project. A brief ceremony Thursday in Meadowview announced the funding and the project’s launch.

“By partnering with SMUD to electrify homes in Meadowview, we’re investing directly in the health, well being and financial security of our community members,” Matsui said in a statement ahead of the morning launch.

Paul Lau, the utility’s CEO and general manager, in a statement called the project and its investment in Sacramento neighborhoods “transformative.”

“By investing in sustainable infrastructure and partnering with local organizations, we’re not just upgrading homes — we’re building healthier, more resilient neighborhoods and empowering residents to be active participants in our clean energy transition,” Lau said.

SMUD officials say the Meadowview project will soon be followed by similar projects across the Sacramento region, focusing on communities with economic and environmental challenges.

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