New York AG Secured Funding to Protect Low-Income Communities from Lead, Energy Insecurity

MAY 3, 2023

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced $350,000 in funding to Erie County to fight lead poisoning and reduce energy costs for low-income families. The funds will go towards a program that replaces windows in pre-1978 homes occupied by low-income families, which both removes lead paint hazards and creates more energy efficient homes, thus reducing energy costs. The program has previously replaced 560 windows total in 54 homes, and this new round of money is expected to fund up to 8 windows per home in at least 75 homes. The funding is a result of two prior settlements secured by the AG’s office, one in 2012 with the country’s largest mortgage services for foreclosure abuses, and the other in 2007 with American Electric Power for Clean Air Act violations.