CEC Framework to Promote Clean Energy in Low-Income Homes

A May 30 workshop at the California Energy Commission zeroed in on a developing a plan for increasing access to energy efficiency and solar upgrades for low-income housing residents, including those in multifamily units.

CEC discussed its plan the day before the California Public Utilities Commission was slated to vote on a decision to bolster installation of solar systems on low-income housing, but the commission delayed the item.

“It is a quality of life and an equity issue,” said Commissioner Andrew McAllister.

“Multi-family housing is surging to the fore.”

McAllister noted that the Energy Commission’s energy efficiency building code update slated for 2020 is to address multi-family dwellings, along with commercial structures.

About 40 percent of the households in California have low income of $50,000 or less for a family of four.

Often low-income residents have to choose between spending money on food, medicine and/or energy. Thus, reducing energy use and adding solar energy to low-income dwellings can improve the comfort of homes and reduce energy bills, providing important health benefits, said Isaac Sevier with the Natural Resource Defense Council.

Clean energy installations in low-income dwellings are far behind those in higher income housing. To address the widening gap, a study was developed to identify the barriers to clean energy installations faced by low-income communities.

One of the key barriers is that low-income residents are often renters, with property owners lacking incentives to make clean energy installations when the tenant reaps the benefits of lower energy bills. Other installation hurdles include a shortage of capital, the age of buildings and minimal access to efficiency programs.

To address the barriers, the Energy Commission and sister agencies seeking to advance low-income clean energy installations are eyeing: Establishing a multi-agency coordinating task force; Focusing on multifamily buildings; Promoting economically advantageous community solar; Advancing effective green workforce and education goals in disadvantaged communities; Expanding energy upgrade financing pilot programs; and Collaborating on common metrics and using data systematically across programs. —Elizabeth McCarthy

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CEC Framework to Promote Clean Energy in Low-Income Homes

William J. Kelly

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