C2C Expert Match Technical Assistance City of Reading, Pennsylvania

Clean Energy to Communities (C2C) is an innovative, technical program that helps electric utilities, local governments, and community-based organizations meet their progressive clean energy goals. The Expert Match program is designed to provide short-term, no-cost technical assistance for communities seeking to answer a near-term.

This document was an Expert Match Overview for the City of Reading, Pennsylvania. The City of Reading, located in southeastern Pennsylvania, is the main city in the Greater Reading Area and the county seat of Berks County, with a population of approximately 95,112 as of 2020. Historically a disinvested manufacturing community, it has a poverty rate of around 40%, a housing stock averaging 90 years old, and an owner-occupied housing rate below 40%.

In 2019, Reading adopted a resolution to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050. The city aims to transition
residential, small commercial, and small manufacturing sectors to renewable energy for electricity and heating,
bypassing natural gas.

The City expressed interest in improving the safety, efficiency, and comfort of older rowhomes, which often use home heating oil and pose various risks to residents. Energy efficiency retrofits are a priority to enhance these conditions.