July 7, 2015
From The National Journal
The White House is unveiling a sweeping effort to increase access to solar power—particularly in low-income communities.
Administration officials will announce a slate of executive actions and private sector commitments on Tuesday designed to help underserved communities power their homes with solar energy while expanding opportunities for Americans to get jobs in the solar industry. The initiative is the latest action in President Obama’s far-reaching energy agenda.
“It is without a doubt a win-win-win,” Maryland Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings said during a call with reporters on Monday announcing the new initiatives. “Solar energy not only serves our planet by reducing pollution and battling climate change, it also serves people by lowering their energy bills.”
The cost to install solar panels has dropped dramatically in recent years due to technological innovation and new financing models. But solar power still makes up just a tiny sliver of total U.S. electricity generation—and significant hurdles to deployment remain.
The White House is seeking to address some of those obstacles, including a lack of expertise in solar panel installation. As part of the initiative, the Housing and Urban Development Department will dole out technical assistance to affordable-housing organizations as a way of encouraging solar installation. The administration also plans to install 300 megawatts of renewable power in federally subsidized housing.