Community Solar

Pilot program aims to deliver community solar benefits to low-income people

Pilot program aims to deliver community solar benefits to low-income people
(Installing a low-income community solar array with students from Leech Lake Tribal College in Minnesota. Photo Credit: Jason Edens)

The U.S. Departments of Energy and Health & Human Services said that five states and Washington, D.C. will support the pilot of a Community Solar Subscription Platform. The program is intended to connect families to solar energy and thereby lower electricity bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other low-income assistance programs. 

DOE also directed $10 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help fund solar energy careers in what it said are underserved communities. 

The Community Solar Subscription Platform is designed to connect community solar projects with verified cost savings to households participating in government-run assistance programs like LIHEAP. 

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Under LIHEAP, eligible households receive help with their heating and cooling energy costs, bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, weatherization, and energy-related home repairs. Community solar is intended to allow multiple customers benefit from a shared solar energy system. DOE’s community solar target is to power 5 million homes and provide 20% savings on a subscriber’s energy bills, up from 10% on average today.  

The initial pilot will be rolled out in Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Washington, D.C. These states will provide feedback, coordination, and data to test the operability, security, and performance of the platform.

DOE said it prioritized working with states that have existing programs to support low-income community solar development. If successful, participants are expected to see electricity bill savings that range from 20% in Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and New Mexico to 50% in Washington, D.C. and Colorado.

The Energy Department’s National Community Solar Partnership, HHS, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, National Energy Assistance Directors Association, and the National Association of State Energy Officials are collaborating on the Community Solar Subscription Platform. 

DOE also issued a Request for Information to obtain feedback on the structure of the platform from community-based organizations, community solar subscription managers and developers, state and local governments, researchers, LIHEAP implementation organizations, and others. Responses are due by August 31. 

In addition, DOE directed $10 million to fund its Advancing Equity through Workforce Partnerships program. The initiative is expected to fund projects that support new workforce programs that bring together employers, training providers, and labor unions to support pathways to the solar industry to recruit, train, and retain an inclusive workforce. The programs are intended to be demand-driven, worker-centric and sector-based, and are expected to use established workforce programs and resources, be sustainable and replicable, and prioritize energy justice. 

DOE said it also was launching the Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar. The award would recognize best practices in community solar that increase equitable access and ensure benefits go to subscribers and their communities. Up to five finalists can win a Sunny Award and prizes of $10,000 per team. More information is available here.