Biden-Harris Admin Launches Clean Energy Connector to Bring Nearly $15 Million in Annual Energy Savings to Up to 40,000 Low-Income Households

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Households in New Mexico, Illinois, and Washington D.C. will now Have Entry to Group Photo voltaic By HHS’s Low Earnings Dwelling Vitality Help Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Immediately, the Biden-Harris Administration, by way of a partnership between the U.S. Division of Vitality (DOE) and the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers (HHS), launched the pilot of the Clean Energy Connectora device that connects households to photo voltaic power by way of HHS’s Low-Earnings Dwelling Vitality Help Program (LIHEAP). The primary-of-its-kind software program can now be utilized by native LIHEAP program directors in Illinois, Washington, D.C., and New Mexico to attach neighborhood photo voltaic subscriptions to as many as 40,000 households with low incomes. Connecting LIHEAP-eligible households with neighborhood photo voltaic subscriptions will decrease power payments for households, improve entry to scrub power amongst underserved communities, and improve equitable photo voltaic power deployment, in assist of President Biden’s bold clear power and Justice40 targets.

“Renewable energy is by far the cheapest form of power and now, thanks to innovative solutions developed under the Biden-Harris Administration, more households across America can access the health and savings benefits that solar power provides,” stated U.S. Secretary of Vitality Jennifer M. Granholm. “DOE’s partnership with HHS will improve the deployment of neighborhood photo voltaic, serving to hundreds of households decrease their power payments and in flip scale back their power burden, guaranteeing People throughout the nation are included as we transition to a clear power economic system.

“LIHEAP keeps families and individuals safe and healthy by providing heating assistance in the winter and cooling assistance in the summer,” stated U.S. Secretary of Well being and Human Providers Xavier Becerra. “Connecting LIHEAP-eligible households with the benefits and bill-savings of community solar will also have a lasting impact and provide increased economic security for families.”

After announcing the development of the software in 2022this pilot will allow as many as 40,000 LIHEAP-eligible households within the two pilot states, plus Washington, D.C., to have entry to accessible neighborhood photo voltaic initiatives. Efficiently enrolled individuals might see significant electrical energy invoice financial savings, in alignment with the National Community Solar Partnership aim of 20% family financial savings, equal to $370 per family yearly.

Photo voltaic power is now cheaper than utility invoice charges in lots of states. Group photo voltaic, which permits a number of clients to profit from a shared photo voltaic power system, gives a method for people who can not entry rooftop photo voltaic panels to save cash on utility payments and entry different advantages.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker stated, “We can’t claim to be serious about a clean energy future until it’s an option for everyone, not just those with the extra resources available to invest in technologies like solar. This program will expand solar to families who will see the most benefit from lower energy bills and place an equitable focus on clean energy distribution, an essential part of a sustainable future that I’m grateful the Biden-Harris Administration is prioritizing.”

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stated, “Through our participation in the Clean Energy Connector, New Mexico is reducing the burden of renewable energy costs for families around the state. New Mexico is proud to be one of the first states to pilot the Connector, and I urge other states to join us in implementing this program that is making solar available to more Americans.”

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser stated, “Expanding who can access solar energy at home isn’t just good for the environment, it’s good for the economy and the households that will benefit the most from lower energy costs. “Programs like the Clean Energy Connector make renewable energy more equitable and accessible and are helping build a more sustainable future for all Americans. We have seen the benefits locally of making solar power more accessible, and now we are grateful for the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued investments in our clean energy infrastructure.”

Roughly 5.7 million households in the United States receive LIHEAP assistance with heating prices. LIHEAP can help eligible households with their heating and cooling prices, weatherization, and energy-related house repairs. Transitioning to photo voltaic power can assist households throughout the nation get monetary savings on their electrical energy payments, however many American households face obstacles to accessing these advantages, together with the subscription charges.

Developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) with assist from the Nationwide Vitality Help Administrators Affiliation and the Nationwide Affiliation of State Vitality Officers, the Clear Vitality Connector will allow state neighborhood photo voltaic program directors to totally vet the suppliers, who should adhere to the state client safety and financial savings necessities to take part within the platform. Native LIHEAP and neighborhood motion companies, and county social assist places of work in Illinois, Washington D.C., and New Mexico assisted within the improvement and testing of the device, with Colorado, New Jersey, and New York taking part as advisor states. Further states are inspired to join DOE’s webinar on April 10 to find out how to get involved.

DOE additionally convened an advisory group, with compensation, who supplied strategic assist to Connector improvement by way of 2023, together with the American Public Energy Affiliation, Clear Vitality States Alliance, Edison Electrical Institute, Nationwide Group Motion Partnership, Nationwide Shopper Legislation Middle, Nationwide Vitality and Utility Affordability Coalition, Nationwide Vitality Help Administrators Affiliation, Nationwide Rural Electrical Cooperative Affiliation, and Photo voltaic United Neighbors.

In accordance with a report recently released by NRELif all technically viable neighborhood photo voltaic is deployed, it might serve greater than 53 million households and over 300,000 companies within the U.S. that can’t entry rooftop photo voltaic, representing almost 1 terawatt of potential neighborhood photo voltaic capability.

Learn extra concerning the Solar Energy Technologies Officeand National Community Solar Partnership in DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Be taught extra about HHS’s Community Solar and LIHEAP consideration.

Households searching for LIHEAP help ought to go to energyhelp.us or name 1-866-674-6327.