Facilitating Equitable Solar Access Through Federal Assistance Programs

May 3, 2024 by Kamyria Coney, NREL

During the third round of SEIN, Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI) led a multistakeholder team to bridge the gap between rooftop solar adoption and low-income families in Carrizo Springs and Austin, Texas. TEPRI's data shows that 40% of low-to-moderate income families in Texas struggle to pay their energy bills. Through its work in SEIN, TEPRI found collaborations within its multistakeholder team instrumental in overcoming challenges and paving the way for successful rooftop solar deployments in low-income communities. The team included Frontier Energy, Community Services Agency of South Texas, American Electric Power, Texas Solar Energy Society, Austin Area Urban League, and Austin Energy.

TEPRI's New Pathways for Equitable Solar Adoption in Texas report, explored a novel approach: combining funding from utility energy programs and various federal, state, and local government funding sources for solar deployment. By demonstrating resources from programs such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the U.S. Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), alongside utility rebates, the project aimed to make rooftop solar accessible and affordable to disadvantaged communities through this pathway.

A graphic in the form of a Venn Diagram that depicts Federal funding sources that come through WAP and LIHEAP, like Housing and Urban Development, the Environmental protection Association, Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and others--vs local funding sources that come through utility rebate/incentive programs, like Renewable Energy Certificates, Community Choice Aggregation, foundation grants, Regional Energy Networks, and others. — Examples of potential funding sources to buy down solar installation costs.

TEPRI and its multistakeholder team demonstrated this potential pathway through pilot project successes in Carrizo Springs and Austin. In fact, through Housing and Urban Development and utility funds, the Carrizo Springs pilot project installed 13 independent solar energy systems (~2 kW) at an elderly housing complex in December 2022. TEPRI's report provides lessons learned and considerations to combine funding programs to increase solar deployment for other cities and states.

TEPRI's considerations included:

Engaging local utility incentive programs: These programs may pair with WAP or LIHEAP, as they are commonly available and indicate a potential opportunity if the utility offers incentives or rebates for residential rooftop solar installations.

Establishing clear protocols and guidelines: The team explored with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs protocols and guidelines for integrating rooftop solar installations into the Texas State Plan under LIHEAP funding. This step was crucial in ensuring future alignment with federal program requirements and the implementation process.

Promoting community awareness and education: The team addressed limited community awareness about the benefits of rooftop solar. The team also implemented educational campaigns and outreach efforts to inform and educate the participating low-income communities about solar energy, including potential electricity cost-savings benefits and maintenance needs.

Navigating programmatic barriers: The team tackled various programmatic barriers, such as per-home spending limits in WAP and LIHEAP that could be limited for solar installations. By addressing these barriers and seeking innovative solutions, the team found that small solar systems (~2 kW) alleviated the spending limits imposed while still being economically advantageous to the household.

The SEIN Round 3 multistakeholder team led by TEPRI contributed information to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for its decision to include rooftop solar in the State of Texas 2023 LIHEAP plan. New online resources offer support to state and local WAP and LIHEAP agencies to integrate solar energy as an option in these federal programs. Access a decision guide, implementation toolkit, and more on the Department of Energy website for help launching solar adoption pathways for low-income households.

To learn more, register for the Clean Energy States Alliance's upcoming webinar with NREL researchers Juliana Williams and Jenna Harmon: "Using LIHEAP and WAP To Expand Low-Income Solar Access." The webinar will be held 2–3 p.m. EDT, Thursday, May 9.

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