Project Grant DEEE0010152

OUR PROJECT WILL DEVELOP A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT A SELF-SUSTAINING LOW-INCOME RESIDENTIAL SOLAR PROGRAM WITHIN THE ALGER MARQUETTE COMMUNITY ACTION BOARD (AMCAB) TO BENEFIT THE RURAL LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS THAT THE AGENCY SERVES IN UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN. THIS ENDEAVOR WILL LEVERAGE EXISTING AMCAB PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES TO REDUCE ENERGY BURDENS FOR LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS (E.G., WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM). IT ALSO WILL COMBINE AND LEVERAGE ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY LOCAL UTILITIES. ADDITIONALLY-IMPORTANTLY-THIS PROGRAM WILL ADD AFFORDABLE SOLAR GENERATION, SUCH AS COMMUNITY SOLAR OR ONSITE MULTIFAMILY SOLAR. COMBINING EFFICIENCY AND SOLAR GENERATION IS SYMBIOTIC: IT CREATES "ENERGY SECURITY" FOR HOUSEHOLDS FACING FINANCIAL BURDEN. EFFICIENCY ALONE AND SOLAR ALONE DO NOT HAVE THE STACKED BENEFITS AS THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO PROVIDES. WE BELIEVE THIS CAN AND SHOULD BE A SERVICE OFFERED WITHIN COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCIES. OUR INTENTION IS TO DEVELOP AND TEST THE "BUSINESS CASE" FOR AMCAB DEVELOPING SUCH AN ONGOING PROGRAM. OUR PROJECT AIMS TO ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: IS IT DOABLE? FINANCIALLY VIABLE? CAN WE MEASURE THE IMPROVEMENT OF LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS' FINANCES BY REDUCING A PORTION OF THEIR UTILITY BILL THROUGH AFFORDABLE SOLAR? WHAT DOES "SELF-SUSTAINING" ENTAIL AS A COST-BENEFIT METRIC? OUR PROJECT'S LESSONS LEARNED WILL BE SHARED WITH A NETWORK OF NATIONWIDE AGENCIES.