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Exploring New Deployment Tools for Accelerating Equitable Solar Access to Low-and Moderate-Income Households

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Proceedings of the 52nd American Solar Energy Society National Solar Conference 2023 (ASES SOLAR 2023)

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Abstract

The Accelerating Low-Income Financing and Transactions (LIFT) for Solar Access Everywhere project researched and gathered data on 453 community solar projects in the United States, that dedicated some portion of their system capacity to Low-and-Moderate-Income (LMI) households. This paper discusses new community solar deployment tools, strategies for implementing financial best practices, and other key insights utilities and solar developers can leverage to improve inclusive solar access to LMI communities. The research reinforces the need for software development tools and programs targeted at LMI households – especially those severely impacted by high energy burdens. This developmental need is clear because although weatherization policies are necessary, they are not sufficient to address systemic root causes of energy burden, as there are more eligible households than available program space within federally mandated energy assistance programs. Incentives on energy efficiency programs – including cost-effective financing mechanisms, at the local and state levels – are needed to make improvements that effectively address energy burdens for renters in multifamily housing and single-family residential homes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Groundswell, Washington DC, 20003, USA

    Elvis Moleka

Authors
  1. Elvis Moleka
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Correspondence to Elvis Moleka .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dave Renne Renewables, LLC, Boulder, CO, USA

    Dave Renné

  2. American Solar Energy Society, Boulder, CO, USA

    Carly Rixham

  3. American Solar Energy Society, Boulder, CO, USA

    Lauren Reddington

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Moleka, E. (2023). Exploring New Deployment Tools for Accelerating Equitable Solar Access to Low-and Moderate-Income Households. In: Renné, D., Rixham, C., Reddington, L. (eds) Proceedings of the 52nd American Solar Energy Society National Solar Conference 2023. ASES SOLAR 2023. Springer Proceedings in Energy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39147-7_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-39147-7_19

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-39146-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-39147-7

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

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