How Utilities Can Help Get Solar Power In Neglected Communities

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

Originally published on Solar Love.

A new report entitled Solar for All examines what utilities can do to make solar power more accessible for more Americans, particularly in lower-income areas and communities of color. It is the result of a collaboration between the Southern Environmental Law Center  the Partnership for Southern Equity, and the South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development. It is also supported by more than a dozen other state and regional organizations.

Solar For All residential solar power guide

Chip in a few dollars a month to help support independent cleantech coverage that helps to accelerate the cleantech revolution!

The report addresses the important issue of solar equity and access — the idea that we need to do more to make sure underserved populations have better access to solar PV systems and the benefits that come from them. The report focuses on three things utility companies can do to broaden the availability of solar power technology across the entire geographical area they service.

Diverse financing: The authors suggest a range of options for financing residential solar systems more affordable for more people. That could involve nothing more than taking advantage of programs that are already in place and helping to power the growth of residential solar. Those include third-party arrangements like solar leases or power purchase agreements. On-bill financing is another plan. It lets the utility company pay for the residential solar system and get paid back by adding the monthly financing to the customer’s utility bill.

Community solar. Many people don’t have a roof that is suitable for residential solar. Others, like tenants, don’t own a roof they can install panels on. Community solar systems offer a way to get the benefits of residential solar for those people. Community solar installations can be situated in underserved communities. Many also offer job training for local people interested in getting involved in the solar power industry.

Leveraging of existing programs. Federal, state, and local programs that are already in place to serve low-income customers, such as energy efficiency initiatives, can be expanded to cover solar, too, the report suggests. Adding solar energy systems goes hand in hand with efficiency upgrades.

“Solar power,” the report says, “presents an opportunity to provide low and middle income customers with clean, affordable, renewable energy, helping families to control energy costs while expanding investments in local communities.” Utilities need to be active, helpful partners in making that happen.

Lauren Bowen, an SELC attorney, says that the examples in the report “demonstrate the opportunities and benefits solar power can provide for lower income families and communities of color.” And, she says, “It is time for southern utilities to embrace this effort, to bring the power of the sun to all.”

Source: Union of Concerned Scientists


Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest CleanTechnica TV Video


Advertisement
 
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.

Steve Hanley

Steve writes about the interface between technology and sustainability from his home in Florida or anywhere else The Force may lead him. He is proud to be "woke" and doesn't really give a damn why the glass broke. He believes passionately in what Socrates said 3000 years ago: "The secret to change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new." You can follow him on Substack and LinkedIn but not on Fakebook or any social media platforms controlled by narcissistic yahoos.

Steve Hanley has 5456 posts and counting. See all posts by Steve Hanley