​Washington, D.C. (September 26, 2018) – Pepco today announced a $65,000 grant and pilot resiliency project with Jubilee Housing, a community based nonprofit housing developer, to fund an emergency battery storage system at their Maycroft affordable housing property in Ward One's Columbia Heights neighborhood.

The innovative system provides three days of power to Maycroft residents in the event of an extended power interruption from severe weather or other emergencies. The grant is part of Pepco's broad-based effort to transform the future energy experience for customers and communities, while ensuring access to vital, sustainable energy resources for customers in all Wards.

"Creating a sustainably powered resilience room for the Maycroft affordable housing community further demonstrates our commitment to innovative technologies and increasing resilience for our most vulnerable residents and neighbors," said Dave Velazquez, president and CEO, Pepco Holdings. "This first-of-its-kind grant in the District paves the way for the important development of new energy technologies to increase resilience and build equity that will be integral to meeting our customers' future energy needs."

As part of this pilot project, the Maycroft will host a 70.2 kilowatt (kw) solar panel array on its roof and a resilience room capable of powering its Family Resource Center and Teen Center for three days. The resilience room provides refrigeration for medication, a television and radio connecting residents to important emergency information, lighting, and multiple electrical outlets to charge cell phones and other communications devices. Pepco will manage the interface between the battery storage and solar installation in a pilot environment, allowing the company to learn more about how these technologies can be used in future applications. 

"Jubilee Housing is excited that a community room in the Maycroft, Jubilee Housing's newest deeply affordable justice housing^SM property located at 1474 Columbia Rd NW, will be equipped to ensure access to electricity for residents in the event of a power shutdown," said Jim Knight, president and executive director, Jubilee Housing. "Resiliency is especially important for vulnerable communities that already experience great uncertainty in the course of their lives."

Jubilee Housing has more than 45 years of experience developing and providing affordable housing across the District. Its 10 properties include 300 units of deeply affordable housing, with many serving the chronically homeless population. Two-thirds of the units are reserved for households making less than or equal to 30 percent area median income, while the rest are reserved for households making 60 percent or less than area median income. Justice housing provides the opportunity for low-income families to live in transit-oriented communities in safe, permanently affordable homes, and in green, sustainably designed buildings.

New Partners Community Solar assisted in the design and predevelopment of the battery system, and construction on the Maycroft and battery system installation concludes this winter.

"We are proud to support Jubilee Housing and Pepco by designing and implementing the solar-powered battery back-up program that will help ensure Jubilee's residents have needed electrical services during times when the larger energy grid is impacted," said Jeffrey Lesk, co-founder, New Partners Community Solar. "While there has been much talk about developing such centers, someone has to go first and demonstrate leadership. With Jubilee's mission, New Partner's vision, and Pepco's support, D.C. will have its first solar powered, battery supported on-site resiliency center."

Pepco and Jubilee announced this new grant during the Washington DC Economic Partnership's (WDCEP) first-annual WeDC Fest, a three-day conference celebrating collaboration and innovation for innovators, entrepreneurs, makers and creatives, and government leaders that make the District the Capital of Inclusive Innovation. WeDC Fest is presented by the Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser and powered by Pepco and Exelon.

Find additional information about Pepco by visiting pepco.com. Follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/pepcoconnect and on Twitter at twitter.com/pepcoconnect. Our mobile app is available at pepco.com/mobileapp.

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About Pepco: Pepco, a public utility owned by Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), provides safe and reliable energy to more than 842,000 electric delivery customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.