Co-op launch, grant funding opportunity generate media interest

Since officially launching at the Indiana Solar Congress in December, several media outlets have picked up the story. Grant funding available to low- and moderate-income co-op members through a partnership with the City of Indianapolis – Office of Sustainability and as part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge have driven particular media interest. Here are a few examples of media coverage for the Indianapolis Solar Co-op so far!

The Indianapolis Star writes in First-of-its-kind program to provide free solar installations for low-income homes in 2020:

Up to 20 low- and middle-income Indianapolis homes could be running on solar power free of charge by the end of next year with the help of a new city initiative, which is the first of its kind in the Midwest…

The co-op is designed to reduce costs for solar installations by buying from contractors in bulk and then selecting from competitive bids from suppliers, said Solar United Neighbors’ Indiana program director Zach Schalk, and has seen success in other states.

“We’ve completed more than 220 of these co-ops at this point,” Schalk said. “We bring together neighbors and businesses and nonprofits and the giving community to help educate about solar technology and economics.”

The Associated Press writes in Indianapolis program boosting low-income solar power access:

The goal is to make solar power accessible to more homes, city Office of Sustainability Director Katie Robinson said.

Indianapolis homeowners with an income at or less than 80% of the area’s median household income are eligible for grant funding through this program. A family of four with an income of $63,900 would be eligible.

The households selected will receive the installation and equipment, said Zach Schalk, the Indiana program director for Solar United Neighbors.

“We’re really viewing this as a kind of pilot program, a proven concept to see a low-income solar program and what kind of impact it can have in Indianapolis,” Schalk said. “Hopefully turning around and being able to design something that will be a little more ambitious beyond 2020.”

The Indiana Environmental Reporter writes in Pilot Project Seeks to Bring Solar Power to Low-income Communities:

A pilot project is looking for Indianapolis homeowners interested in making the switch to solar power without spending a dime…

“We really want to make sure that the program is a step in a more inclusive and more equitable direction for our clean energy transition,” said Zach Schalk, Indiana program director for Solar United Neighbors. “Folks who are able to invest in solar can install solar on their roofs for the most part, but that leaves a lot of people behind who can’t afford to make that investment on their own. So, we think that solar energy should be able to benefit not just folks who have a lot of money to invest.”

For more media coverage of the Indianapolis Solar Co-op, check out our Press & Media page.