Full Title: The National Impact of 30 Million Solar Homes: A Vision for an Equitable Economic Recovery Built on Climate Protection and Energy Democracy
Author(s): Katie Kienbaum, John Farrell
Publisher(s): Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR), Initiative for Energy Justice, Solar United Neighbors
Publication Date: July 14, 2021
Full Text: Download Resource
Description (excerpt):
The 30 Million Solar Homes policies leverage federal power to spark investment that can serve more than 30 million households with rooftop or community solar over the next five years. This decentralized approach to reaching one in four households with solar maximizes and disperses the economic benefits of expanding clean energy in the fight against climate change, directly benefiting as many Americans as possible. More than three-quarters of total federal investment benefits marginalized communities, including low- and moderate-income communities, environmental justice communities, and solar deserts. Over 300 advocacy organizations, solar businesses, and faith communities have signed on in support of 30 Million Solar Homes.
This report documents the economic impacts of the new and expanded federal programs of the 30 Million Solar Homes initiative. These programs would rapidly deploy more than 150 gigawatts of rooftop and community solar over five years in rural, urban, and tribal communities across the country. This new solar capacity would serve homes, but also small businesses, schools, nonprofits, and other community anchors. The 30 Million Solar Homes proposal focuses primarily on federal programs, agencies, and regulations to deploy solar, but it also makes recommendations for home weatherization, workforce development, and other equitable clean energy policies. Importantly, more than three-quarters of total federal investment under the 30 Million Solar Homes package would benefit marginalized communities, including low- and moderate-income communities, environmental justice communities, and communities in solar deserts.