Biden’s New Low-Income Solar Power Program Hailed as ‘Vital’ for People and Planet
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced a new initiative to bring solar power to low-income families across the U.S.
The new measures will be available to the over 4.5 million families that are served by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, helping them transition their homes to community solar power—which would reduce the prices of monthly power bills by 10% to 50%.
“The combination of extreme heat and rising utility prices creates a perfect storm, and HUD-assisted families and communities are some of the most vulnerable,” said HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge. She added that the steps announced by the Biden administration will help families reduce utility costs. Furthermore, it will also provide an opportunity for HUD-assisted residents to participate in the clean energy economy.
As reported by Politico, “The initiative would connect participants in a federal program that subsidizes energy costs for low-income residents with developers of community solar projects, which sell subscriptions to households for renewable power with the promise of lowering their monthly electricity bills.”
In order to reduce consumer risk, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program recipients will be able to log in to an online platform and shop for the project of their choice—selected from a pool of vetted and approved developers by the Biden administration.
The Biden administration projects the new HUD initiative could stimulate 134 gigawatts of new solar power capacity nationwide. The current U.S. solar capacity today sits at 97.2 gigawatts, according to the Energy Department.
Community solar advocates see the program as a way to democratize renewable power. It will enable people who would otherwise not have access or the means to finance solar investments.
The initiative comes as consumers across the U.S. are contending with skyrocketing energy costs and record-shattering heatwaves.
Originally published at Commondreams.org.
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