SolarCity bringing solar to affordable housing communities

SolarCity has announced a new solar service specifically for affordable housing communities, developers, and residents. One of America’s leading solar power providers, SolarCity announced on Thursday that it was launching a new solar service “that can make it possible for affordable housing developers, builders, and residents to pay less for solar electricity than they currently pay for utility power.” Specifically, SolarCity intends to finance and install solar power systems itself on the rooftops and carports of affordable housing communities with the subsequent electricity generated distributed among the common areas and individual housing areas.

Residents of the affordable housing communities will then receive credit on their utility bills according to the amount of solar electricity allocated to their specific units, thanks to a policy called virtual net metering. California’s Everyday Energy — a developer and advocate for the economically disadvantaged — is partnering with SolarCity in-state to make solar power available to residents of affordable housing communities.

“We expect the collaboration between SolarCity and Everyday Energy to make it possible for a broad range of multifamily affordable housing communities to save money on energy costs that can instead be spent on food, healthcare and other critical needs,” said Scott Sarem, cofounder and chief executive officer of Everyday Energy.

“There is a critical need to expand access to solar to communities that have not traditionally experienced as much growth as others,” said California Assemblymember Susan Eggman (D-Stockton). “SolarCity should be commended for creating dedicated programs that target the hard to reach consumers while putting hard earned money back into the pockets of those who need it the most.” 

http://cleantechnica.com/2015/09/26/solarcity-bringing-solar-to-affordable-housing-communities/