News > How Solar for All, and you, can make the sun rise

How Solar for All, and you, can make the sun rise

• Solar for All

December 27, 2023

The sun shines on everyone. But that doesn’t mean everyone can benefit from solar energy. Yet!

Solar United Neighbors (SUN) has worked for many years to help families go solar, regardless of where they live or their financial situation. Now, there’s an incredible opportunity for solar energy to power communities across the country. It’s called “Solar for All”. Let’s look at how this is happening, and how you can take part.

Last year, Congress passed the most important pro-solar bill in a generation, the Inflation Reduction Act. This landmark legislation makes solar accessible for more people in many ways:

• Extended tax credits for solar homeowners
• Additional funding for the Rural Energy for America Program to help farms and rural small businesses go solar
• Direct pay so that nonprofits and government entities like schools can benefit from solar tax credits

Expanding access through Solar for All

Further, the bill provides $7 billion dollars for communities across the country. This money will let them expand access to solar for low- and moderate-income (LMI) families. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is distributing this money through a competitive proposal process, “Solar for All.”

Cities, counties, and multi-state collaboratives developed proposals to grow solar in their communities. They designed them to ensure this growth will happen equitably. This way, everyone can feel the sunshine.

SUN was excited to bring our experience to bear on many of these efforts. We developed a best practice program design guide and facilitated a webinar for applicants. In total, we contributed to 23 Solar for All proposals.

“The Industrial Heartland Solar Coalition’s Solar for All application was a collaborative process spanning multiple sectors and states,” said Alyssa Johnson from Power a Clean Future Ohio.  The IHSC project team developed a grant application that represents the needs and voices of community members across 18 unique regions in eight states.”

The proposal has a goal of bringing solar to nearly 28,000 LMI households. This will save participants an average of $579 per year. Along the way, it will train 1,000 new clean energy workers.

“Power a Clean Future Ohio is proud to be a part of this process. We’re grateful to be a member of a broader coalition of organizations and individuals working towards implementing the goals set forth by the Inflation Reduction Act,” Johnson said.

Applicants submitted proposals in October. We expect the EPA will announce recipients as early as March of 2024. Funding for the proposals should follow in July. SUN is excited to contribute our years of experience in solar to provide implementation technical assistance. This will help our partners achieve this massive and unprecedented solar deployment.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to invest in our communities and catalyze a just and inclusive transition to a clean energy economy,” said Duanne Andrade, Executive Director of the Solar Energy and Loan Fund.

How you can get involved

This is where you come in!

Solar supporters like you will play a key role in making these investments successful. Community involvement is key. We’re looking for your input on what matters most, and what is most needed where you live. And, we’ll need your help to spread the word about new ways your neighbors can go solar.

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