CSD recently challenged its existing energy providers to design a program to install rooftop solar systems (photovoltaic or “PV” systems) on low-income homes. Using a competitive bid process, we asked interested providers to meet these objectives:

• Install optimally-sized PV systems on single- or multi-family homes.
• Develop creative partnerships to provide systems with no loans, no liens and no out-of-pocket costs for the low-income owners or residents.
• Put Energy Efficiency first to further reduce the energy consumption of each home before installing PV.
• Develop “Green” jobs by training low-income workers to become solar installers. Based on their proposals, four CSD providers were selected.

The resulting program is called "Solar for All Calfornia" and will result in in the installation of PV systems on low-income homes throughout California.

January 2012 Update:  The Solar For All California pilot program is drawing to a close and we are working to install projects that have already been identified and approved. 

WHAT'S NEW with SOLAR FOR ALL:                                                                                                                                                                                                    Quick Stats through April 20, 2012:

•  895 low-income households have received fully installed solar systems. This number is broken down by:  
• 529 single-family systems
• five multi-family projects that will benefit 366 units
• Additional projects have been approved by CSD and are awaiting installation, bringing the total households to nearly 1,500 at the end of the program
• Sizes range from 1.2 - 5.5 kW, with the average size being 2.7 kW

Update Reports

Read about projects and progress in our update reports. 

• The next report to be published will be a final report, anticipated Summer, 2012.
• June 1, 2011 - August 31, 2011
• March 1, 2011 - May 31, 2011
• December 1, 2010 - February 28, 2011
• September 1 - November 30, 2010
• June 1 - August 31, 2010

Documents

CSD completed a solar education document, which will be given to households receiving solar.

It is available in both English and Spanish:

• Solar for All California        
• Energia Solar Para Toda California

Archives

First Project Installed!  Read about First Install in Willits: June 1, 2010

CUSTOMER COMMENTS

“Thank you so very much for having provided the means to have the solar panels installed on my roof.  I have had two PG&E bills showing the wattage produced by the panels, and my PG&E bills have been reduced by more than half each month”   -Guerneville

“I no longer have electric bills, and since I am currently unemployed, the extra money is spent on everyday living. I feel extremely lucky to be given this gift. It saves me money monthly and will add value to my home.”     -  Lakeport

“We have had a big reduction in our PG&E bill since it has been installed.  My husband became disabled in 2008 and we have had a very rough time since then.  We have been paying everything in arears so having one less utility to worry about can go to something else we worry about.”    - Kelseyville

I couldn't be happier with it. I never even think about it, but I know it's working because I have seen a drop in my PGE bill.  - Lakeport

FUNDING

Funding for these projects comes from LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.  Traditionally, California has used this funding for more traditional weatherization measures like insulation and caulking, but with the growing awareness of the benefits of solar, CSD wanted to find a way its low-income customers could benefit.  CSD set aside $14.7 million, challenging our providers to design an approach that met program objectives.

FOLLOW-UP 

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS FROM ORIGINAL PROPOSALS

North Coast Energy Services (NCES).  NCES proposes to install approximately 150 PV systems, averaging 3.5 kw in size, in single family homes in the counties of Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo. 

By convening a collaborative team that includes local government, nonprofits, solar vendors, economic and job development organization and Native American tribal entities, NCES will train 18 new solar installers.

The NCES grant from CSD is $3,290,038. In addition, the agency will partner with various utility companies, workforce investment boards, solar educators and others, adding an additional $4.2 million in goods and services to be provided at no cost to the state.

Community Resource Project (CRP).  CRP intends to install approximately 200, 3 – 4 kW systems in single-family homes in Sacramento County.

Partnering with such organizations as SMUD, American River College (ARC), Sacramento Employment and Training Agency and others, CRP will produce a “jobs pipeline” for job seekers and transitional workers interested in clean energy technology jobs.  Future solar installers will enter the pipeline either as a student in ARC’s Solar Technician’s program or through specialized training designed for CRP’s existing weatherization staff.  CRP intends to work with the Green Capital Alliance to find private sector placements for recruits, and some recruits will stay on at CRP in permanent positions.

The CRP grant from CSD is $3,812,897. In addition, the agency will partner with various utility companies, workforce investment boards, solar educators and others, adding an additional $7.5 million in goods and services to be provided at no cost to the state.

Fresno County Economic Opportunities Commission (Fresno EOC).  Fresno EOC, acting as the lead agency to four other CSD LIHEAP providers, intends to install PV systems on a mixture of single- and multi-family homes, totaling more than 150 units and ranging in size from 1.5 to 2.5 kW.  Systems will be installed in the counties of Fresno, Merced, Madera, Tulare, Kings and Kern.

Fresno EOC will train 20 existing weatherization crew to perform solar assessment and installation.  A combination of classroom, hands-on and supervised training will increase the area’s Green workforce.

The Fresno grant from CSD is $4,012,897.  In addition, the agency will partner with various utility companies, workforce investment boards, solar educators and others, adding an additional $10 million in goods and services to be provided at no cost to the state.

Central Coast Energy Services (CCES).  CCES will partner with 11 existing CSD  providers to install up to 600 PV systems on multi-family units.  CCES expects the individual system size to range from 1.5 to 2 kW, and intends to serve counties throughout California. 

Agency staff at participating agencies will be trained to assess homes, complete rebate applications and install PV on multi-family units.

The CCES grant from CSD is $3,612,897.  In addition, the agency will partner with various utility companies, workforce investment boards, solar educators and others, adding an additional $11.2 million in goods and services to be provided at no cost to the state.