Earlier this week, the Obama Administration released a fact sheet concerning a new federal initiative to increase access to solar energy for Americans. The Administration claimed it is committed to addressing climate change, promoting clean energy and creating good-paying jobs.
The initiative has a particular focus on low and moderate-income communities, as well as expanding opportunities to join the solar workforce.
According to the Administration, in 2014 the U.S. brought online as much solar energy every three weeks as it did in all of 2008, and the solar industry added jobs ten times faster than the rest of the economy. Since 2010, the average cost of a solar electric system has dropped by 50%, it claimed.
The executive actions and private sector commitments that the Administration announced have aims to “scale up solar for all Americans,” including renters, individuals lacking startup capital or those who lack adequate information on using solar energy.
Key components of the initiative are:
- Launching a national community solar partnership to encourage solar access for the nearly 50% of households and business that are renters or lack adequate roof space to install solar systems, including issuing a guide to support states in developing community solar programs.
- A goal to install 300 MW of renewable energy in federally subsidized housing, as well as providing technical assistance to ease solar installation, including federal funding clarification.
- Housing authorities, rural electric co-ops, power companies and organizations in more than twenty states across the U.S. are committing to 260 solar energy projects, including projects to help low and moderate-income communities save on energy bills and expand community solar.
- $520 million in independent commitments from philanthropic and impact investors, states and cities to advance community solar and increase solar and energy efficiency for low and moderate-income households.
To continue enhancing employment opportunities for U.S. citizens in the solar industry, the Administration is also announcing the following executive actions and private sector commitments:
- AmeriCorps funding to deploy solar and create jobs in underserved communities
- Expanding solar energy education and opportunities for job training
- The solar industry is also setting a personal commitment to diversity, and a number of companies are announcing efforts to build a more inclusive solar workforce.
President Obama committed to a goal to train 75,000 workers to enter the solar industry by 2020 and the Solar Ready Vets program that will train transitioning military personnel for careers in the solar industry at ten military bases.
The fact sheet can be read in detail at this link.
