New Hampshire

Solar Gives NH Resident-Owned Manufactured Housing Communities Control Over Their Energy Costs On a chilly morning in Lebanon, New Hampshire in late November 2018, state leaders, solar developers, and local residents gathered for a ribbon cutting ceremony on the state’s first solar array to be placed in a resident-owned manufactured housing community. The 384-panel joint … Continued

Illinois

The Illinois Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA), Public Act 99-0906, became effective on June 1, 2017. A major, statewide investment in jumpstarting Illinois’ clean energy economy, FEJA includes investments in solar training programs for individuals from economically disadvantaged communities, alumni of the Illinois foster care system, and formerly incarcerated individuals to help ensure that the … Continued

Case Studies

Onset Shared Solar Project – Wareham, MA Two 1 MW off-site shared solar projects will benefit 19 affordable housing projects with over 1,000 units and 56 individual residents. Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul, MN Community solar subscriptions will save the St. Paul PHA approximately $3 million in energy costs, and the … Continued

Single-Family Solar

Overview Homeowners across the country have typically participated in the solar market by installing solar directly on their property to meet a portion of their own energy needs.  Home ownership rates vary starkly among low-income households versus their wealthier counterparts, but nationwide approximately thirty-five percent of low-income families own their own homes. Coupling the core policies used … Continued

Multifamily Housing

Overview A low-income multifamily solar program is a great way to help affordable housing providers, building owners, or large apartment complexes install solar for the direct or indirect benefit of the tenants. Utility bills are usually the largest and most volatile portion of an affordable housing development’s budget. Stabilizing utility bills through solar and other … Continued

Community Solar

Overview Approximately 75 percent of individuals across the country do not have access to solar energy solutions, whether because they don’t have suitable roof space, don’t own their home, or face certain financial barriers to going solar. These barriers are even more acute for low-income customers. Community solar programs, sometimes known as ‘shared solar’ or … Continued

Workforce Development

Overview Low-income solar programs provide a great opportunity for states and municipalities to incorporate workforce development requirements that provide job training opportunities and direct pathways to employment in solar for local workers. Solar is a rapidly expanding industry, with a sustained  job growth over the last seven years, and it is a strong employer of minorities … Continued

Massachusetts

Program Overview: Community solar in Massachusetts is supported by the Green Communities Act of 2008, subsequent revisions to that law, and regulatory implementation.  The Green Communities Act included a number of cutting-edge policies, including a revised net metering program. During implementation of the revised net metering program, the Department of Public Utilities codified the ability … Continued

District of Columbia

Program Overview: The District of Columbia’s Solar for All Program is a great example of a comprehensive low-income solar program because it encompasses single-family projects, multifamily affordable housing projects, community solar projects and workforce development. The Solar for All program was established by the Renewable Portfolio Standard Expansion Amendment Act of 2016, which expands DC’s … Continued

Lessons Learned: Single Family

New York’s single family low-income solar program demonstrates why higher, stable incentive levels based on actual cost differentials are necessary to move low-income solar access forward in a scalable manner.  Through NY-Sun, the state provides rebates and affordable financing for the installation of approved, grid-connected solar systems. NY-Sun’s Affordable Solar Program provides double the standard … Continued