Solar for Low Income Households Building Energy Equity

Single Family Multifamily The Policy Approach Depends on Housing Type Owned Rented Multifamily Section 8 (HUD) LIHTC (Tax Credits) Cooperatives Other

Single Family Multi Family -Ownership The Policy Also Depends on the Type of Challenges Single Family Roof condition Credit Financing Education Permitting Multi Family -Ownership -Utilizing Tax Credits -Virtual Net Metering --Master Metering --Planning

Habitat for Humanity (construction) Single Family: Synergy Programs Habitat for Humanity (construction) Grid Alternatives, Civic Works (job training) Roof Replacement (home repair assistance) Fuel Fund MD (heating assistance)

Government Financing: Utility Programs Single Family: Innovative Financing Alternative Finance Pre-paid PPA: DC SEU, Fuel Fund, Performance contracting (Posigen) Government Financing: PACE/Property Tax Credits Utility Programs CPS San Antonio, Kentucky $6800/system with $20k in energy savings.

Multi-family Buildings

Two Key Questions to ask: Who owns the building? Who pays the energy bill?

Metering Buildings/Solar Multifamily: Depends on Building Metering and Solar Metering Metering Buildings/Solar Master Metered Individual Units Net Meter/Community Solar Key Question: Are you offsetting common area usage or offsetting tenants bills?

HUD Section 8 Projects: Require Either Creativity or An Agreement with HUD Housing Authority/Government Owns Building Tenants Get Energy Vouchers Energy Savings Go Back to Federal Government

LIHTC --The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Housing: Extensive Innovation and Project Models Dominant Housing Type for LMI 45,905 projects and 2.97 million housing units from 1987 -- 2015. Tenants Have Cap on Rent + Energy Lowering Energy Costs allows landlords to raise rents. Many Non-profit housers have strong capacity and expertise utilizing tax credits Most projects offset common area usage NEED: Project Development Grants

Cooperatives can benefit from community solar or common area off-sets Multi-family: Individually Metered Units Community Solar is primary policy needed to allow individual apartments to offset their bills with either roof top or offsite solar Cooperatives can benefit from community solar or common area off-sets

Many Solutions Exist—Smart Project Models not High Subisidies are Needed The building type, ownership arrangements and the barriers to solar must be identified and specified before the LMI policy can be designed.