Latest news with #SolarforAll
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Clean energy advocates concerned about how federal cuts and freezes could affect clean energy efficiency programs in the CSRA
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – State Senator Harold Jones and local clean energy leaders are speaking out about how those cuts could impact the funding of clean energy programs and what that means for the community. Programs like the Weatherization Assistance Program and Solar for All help lower utility costs for some Georgia families. They also promote workforce development, home energy savings, and address climate issues. Georgia State Senator Harold Jones is opposed to those cuts. He says they'll raise costs and cut jobs. 'These are not buzz words about clean energy or weatherization,' said State Senator Harold Jones. 'These things actually matter to people. Actually, puts more money in their pockets. Also improves the economy and the environment. All of that is connected to actually having a better society.' Nicole Lee is a business owner who has seen how weatherization and solar power help low- to moderate-income families save hundreds of dollars in utility costs thanks to these programs. 'Just to see the widespread of ones solar as well as weatherization work in in multiple states and seeing the impact that it helps in LMI communities is astonishing, and so I'm hoping that you know bipartisan funding is able to be passed so that these programs can continue to exist,' said Nicole Lee, Owner of Be Smart Home Solutions. Paige Brockmeyer is part of the Citizens Climate Lobby in Augusta and wants to encourage people to continue reaching out to state and federal lawmakers and encourage them to vote against cuts to these programs. She says the health of Georgians depends on it. 'The more particulate matter that's in the air from burning fossil fuels, the more respiratory problems we have. So, that's kind of at one level, and at another level, you have events like Hurricane Helene,' said Paige Brockmeyer, Volunteer Group Leader, Citizens Climate Lobby Augusta. The speakers wanted to bring attention to Georgia's congressional delegation to protect these programs so that only the heat rises this summer and not utility costs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Solarize Charlotte-Mecklenburg to launch in June
For Mecklenburg County homeowners, nonprofits and businesses looking to install solar panels, local leaders hope a new program helps save money. Next month, the Solarize Charlotte-Mecklenburg campaign is set to launch. The program aims to lower the cost of installing solar through large-group purchasing. As Charlotte's Chief Sustainability Officer Heather Bolick explains, the more homes, nonprofits and businesses participate, the order gets bigger and the cost per panel decreases. ALSO READ: Silfab Solar debate heats up again in Fort Mill amid safety concerns 'By getting a lot of people to go at once together in this campaign, we can bring down the cost for everyone,' she said. Everyone in Mecklenburg County is eligible to participate, though the campaign is also targeting low and moderate income households. Bolick explains the program will use the $777k in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funding it received last year, from the Department of Energy to help make solar accessible to those who can benefit the most from energy savings. 'We're going to go out to homes that have already had weatherization done, have already had health and safety repairs done, so that they are solar ready,' she said. The program is separate from the statewide Energize NC program, funded through the federal Solar for All program, though Bolick said the city and county hope to work with the Solar for All coalition to find ways for multi-family residents and those who live in homes less suited to solar installations to benefit from community solar or other alternative models. Charlotte has a goal to install 600MW of renewable energy within the city by 2035. According to the Strategic Energy Action Plan dashboard, there's currently about 30MW of solar installed throughout the city. VIDEO: Silfab Solar debate heats up again in Fort Mill amid safety concerns
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vermont to get $22 million for Solar for All program
MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Vermont's Department of Public Service announced new funding Tuesday for affordable housing developers to provide energy with solar panels. The $22.34 million award is more than a third of Vermont's grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is part of the federal Solar for All program. The program was created with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution, as well as of reducing the cost of solar energy for lower-income households. The Vermont Housing Finance Agency, or VHFA, will be in charge of distributing the grant to developers who will install solar arrays either on rooftops or at ground-level. 'Currently, towns with the highest energy burden in Vermont have the least amount of installed solar,' said Department of Public Service commissioner Kerrick Johnson. 'That's why the primary objective of this program is to deliver benefits to disadvantaged Vermonters, regardless of their dwelling status.' The program also includes the RAISE program, which will allow low-income Vermonters to save money by installing solar panels on their houses. 'VHFA is excited to participate in this historic program,' said VHFA Executive Director Maura Collins. 'Solar power will also help affordable housing developers become part of the climate solution by offsetting the increased costs associated with heating with electricity.' VHFA will hold outreach sessions with developers and other community members over the coming months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Officials lift suspension on initiative to bring low-cost power to homes and schools: 'Creates additional savings'
The Mississippi Public Service Commission (MPSC) has lifted a year-long suspension on programs offering solar incentives for public schools and low-income households. According to PV Magazine, the MPSC initially voted to suspend the incentives in 2024, reasoning that they weren't necessary with the Solar for All program offering funding to the state. However, Mississippi didn't receive any funding from the federal government, prompting the commission to vote unanimously on lifting the suspension. One of the programs the commission originally suspended was "Solar for Schools." This initiative enables school districts powered by Mississippi Power Company or Entergy Mississippi to install solar energy systems and offset their utility bills without any upfront cost. It also allows the eligible school districts to collaborate with a third-party solar company that finances, installs, and owns the solar facilities. The company sells the generated electricity to the schools through a power purchase agreement (PPA). The "Solar for Schools" program also covers incentives for battery storage and low-income households through the state's distributed generation rule. Per PV Magazine, a customer must either have a household income at or below 225% of the federal poverty level or a similar stipulation approved by the commission to be eligible for the incentive provided for low-income households. According to Mississippi Today, the state's distributed generation rule is similar to net metering, a program in which power companies reimburse customers who generate their own solar power and sell the surplus electricity generated back to the grid. However, Mississippi's program offers lower reimbursements compared to other states. By lifting the suspension on solar incentives in Mississippi, the commission is paving the way for more affordable and accessible solar energy for the state's residents, particularly school districts and low-income households. In addition to the state's incentives, Mississippi homeowners who install solar panels may also qualify for tax credits through the Inflation Reduction Act. The IRA rewards homeowners who upgrade to energy-efficient home solutions, like solar panels and heat pumps. However, it's important to note that these incentives might not last forever. President Donald Trump has signaled a desire to repeal these benefits, although changes to the IRA would require an act of Congress. However, the uncertainty of how long they'll last is all the more reason to take advantage sooner rather than later. Acting now could save homeowners thousands of dollars. Should the government continue to give tax incentives for energy-efficient home upgrades? Absolutely No Depends on the upgrade I don't know Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The state's solar incentives also support wider adoption of solar energy, which can help to reduce planet-warming gas emissions from dirty energy sources and cool the planet. In 2023, about 60% of electricity generated in the US came from coal, natural gas, petroleum, and other gases, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Solar panels harness energy from the sun, offering a clean and renewable alternative that doesn't produce harmful pollution. "For schools and homeowners that want to save money on their light bill, yesterday's vote creates additional savings to install solar," the Gulf States Renewable Energy Industry Association's executive director, Monika Gerhart, wrote in an email, according to Mississippi Today. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers pass new bill to revolutionize access to low-cost energy: 'This will allow our communities to save money'
A newly passed bill in New Mexico is set to make it easier — and more affordable — for communities to access reliable, clean energy. The state House of Representatives recently approved House Bill 128, a bipartisan measure aimed at supporting solar energy projects in rural and tribal areas. The bill would establish the Local Solar Access Fund, with $20 million proposed in the 2025 state budget to help build solar and battery systems on key public buildings like fire stations, community centers, and water utilities, according to the Los Alamos Reporter. If signed into law, the bill would open the door to grant funding for school districts, counties, and tribal governments, helping cut utility costs while strengthening energy resilience by installing solar panels. The program is designed to prioritize communities that have been historically left out of clean energy upgrades, especially those on tribal lands or facing economic disadvantages. Beyond cutting energy costs and improving access, programs like this also reduce heat-trapping pollution, one of the key drivers of our planet's overheating, by replacing dirty energy sources with clean, locally generated power. New Mexico's approach mirrors a growing national push to ensure that the clean energy transition benefits everyone. Illinois recently approved a new grid modernization plan to support solar panels and battery storage in homes, while Maryland's Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 helps schools achieve similar savings and energy independence through solar. This kind of investment echoes similar efforts nationwide to help everyday people — not just large companies — benefit from the clean energy shift. These state efforts often work in tandem with national initiatives. The Inflation Reduction Act, for example, offers tax credits for solar panels and battery storage systems that help both households and communities lower their bills and boost climate resilience. Do you think your house could withstand a hurricane? No way Maybe a weak one I'm not sure It definitely could Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The Environmental Protection Agency has also launched the Solar for All program to help low-income households across the country access clean, reliable energy. "This will allow our communities to save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and equip community centers, water utilities, and fire stations with resilient and stable sources of power," said House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski, one of the bill's sponsors, in the press release. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
