Community Development Financial Institutions and Community Development Entities are mission-driven financial institutions, corporations, or partnerships that serve and empower economically distressed communities. Whether providing direct investment dollars or credit enhancements, they can play a critical role in solar development. ... [read more]
Consumer protections should be at the forefront of low-income solar programs, especially if they include customer finance. Key protections include... [read more]
Dedicated funding from federal sources for low-income solar programs has been largely absent, but a few partnerships have formed to ensure best practices sharing between jurisdictions looking to or in the process of implementing low-income solar programs.... [read more]
Grants can be used to both directly fund projects developed for the benefit of low-income customers, and provide technical assistance to community-based organizations looking to support solar development, particularly in communities of color, environmental justice communities, and low-income communities.... [read more]
Green banks are fully or partially funded state financial institutions that support affordable financing for clean energy or environmentally beneficial projects. They hold significant potential to expand access to affordable financing for low-income communities.... [read more]
Net metering ensures that solar customers receive full credit on their utility bills for this valuable contribution to the utility grid. The simplicity of net metering has made it one of the most successful state policies for empowering consumers to use rooftop solar to meet their own electricity needs.... [read more]
Investment in solar projects sited in low-income communities and developed in close collaboration with community organizations and residents can help meet community-specific needs, create employment opportunities, and build community wealth.... [read more]