Sometimes a news story comes along that has the perfect headline and offers the perfect explanation for why community solar is so needed across our country—and in Indiana—right now.
NPR recently published a piece on federal funding available through the “Solar for All” program that will help ensure low-income residents have access to solar energy that can lower their utility bills and improve other quality of life issues in local communities.
Rooftop solar adopters still tend to be wealthier than their neighbors. Rooftop solar panels and installation have a median cost of around $30,000 before government incentives, according to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). But prices for panels and installation are falling, and with more leasing and loan financing programs, there’s “a slow but steady movement” toward more low-income homes with rooftop solar, says Galen Barbose, staff scientist at LBNL.
The Solar for All grants aim to speed up that shift, says David Widawsky, director of the EPA’s Office of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which manages the program.
But it isn’t just rooftop solar. Widawsky says the money will also go toward batteries that allow solar customers to store their energy. And it will go toward community solar, which allows customers to tap into solar generated at a shared site, like a solar farm.
Earlier this year, Indiana found out the state would receive more than $100 million in funding through the “Solar for All” program.
As part of these awards, a coalition of Indiana organizations and commissions was awarded nearly $117.5 million.
The Indiana Solar for All Coalition includes the Indiana Community Action Association, the Indiana NAACP and the cities of Fort Wayne, Gary and Indianapolis.
The funding will be used to create new incentives for solar energy for low-income residents and contribute to home energy savings. The award money will also go toward community solar installations, which provides solar energy access to multi-family homes, renters and those without ideal roof spaces.
The federal “Solar for All” program will open up significant new opportunities for low-income residents and renters across Indiana to access the benefits of solar energy.
Traditionally, solar energy has been out of reach for many in these communities due to the high upfront costs of installation and the lack of homeownership, which prevents renters from making such investments.
The “Solar for All” program aims to address these barriers by providing funding and support for community solar projects, where residents can subscribe to a shared solar array and receive credits on their electricity bills. This not only makes solar energy more accessible but also allows participants to save on their energy costs, contributing to economic relief for low-income households.
By making solar energy more inclusive, “Solar for All” will help bridge the equity gap in Indiana’s energy landscape, ensuring that all residents, regardless of income or housing status, can participate in and benefit from the state’s move toward a more sustainable future.