Connecticut churches, synagogues and mosques are supporting a revolutionary program that aims to make solar energy affordable for all homeowners.

Residents who sign up to rent a rooftop solar system as part of this initiative will not have to pay a bond or go through a credit or background check, some of the biggest barriers to switching to the solar power for many low and middle income families. Solar rental costs – initially $ 20 per month in some cases – are probably the lowest currently available in the state and nationwide.

“It’s stellar,” said Reverend Carl McCluster of the Shiloh Baptist Church in Bridgeport, one of the churches participating in the program. “In communities where there are low income households like Bridgeport and like most urban areas… you sometimes have to make ends meet.” Credit checks and deposits are often impossible for these families, he said.

McCluster is also the CEO of the national network of faith groups called Faith Restoration Empowerment & Economic Development Outreach Ministries, Inc., or FREEDOM. For this solar offering, FREEDOM members from Connecticut teamed up with solar supplier PosiGen and Connecticut Green Bank, an organization dedicated to the growth of local clean energy and climate-friendly opportunities.

In the coming weeks, FREEDOM members will be organizing information sessions on the solar program in their communities. Anyone who signs up for these meetings, whether they are a member of the religious organization or not, can take advantage of the deal.

Solar soaring

Connecticut has one of the smallest solar markets in the country, ranking 16th nationally in 2014 for total solar power installed. But with this new program, Connecticut is striving to be a leader in solar accessibility. It is also helping the state move closer to its goal of producing 27% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. And it is doing so in a way that makes solar energy available to families. at all income levels.

It’s not just Connecticut looking to boost solar power – it’s a national phenomenon. Last year, for the first time, more solar power generation capacity than natural gas was brought online in the United States, according to market analysis group GTM Research and industrial trade group Solar Energy Industries Association. Their report says 7.3 gigawatts of solar power were installed in 2015, enough to power more than 5 million homes. The boom is largely fueled by falling solar costs. The average price installed for residential solar systems fell 9 percent between 2013 and 2014, continuing a downward trend.

Even with the constant drops in prices, coupled with programs such as solar rentals or leasing aimed at homeowners and small businesses, solar power remains inaccessible to less well-off families. “It is important to recognize that we are not yet there in universal access to solar energy,” said John rogers, senior energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Massachusetts-based scientific research and advocacy group.

The Connecticut program, which enjoys bipartisan support from state officials, hopes to change that by delivering even better deals.

“Solar energy is a win-win solution for our environment and our economy: it provides clean, renewable energy and lowers utility bills for families, businesses and even places of worship.” Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, said in a statement. Blumenthal is one of several Connecticut politicians from all levels of government to have endorsed the program.

Celestial power

PosiGen, a solar company of about 200 people, started in New Orleans in 2011 and has since expanded to four states, including Connecticut. In its “Solar for Everyone” program, PosiGen offers the same package to homeowners whose roofs can support solar energy: a 20-year contract to rent a small 6-kilowatt solar system for $ 79 per month without deposit, without verification. credit and no background check.

Similar to other so-called third-party solar suppliers, the company owns the solar panels and will pay for the maintenance or replacement. But unlike the plans of other solar competitors, the monthly cost does not increase every year. The price will remain at $ 79 for 20 years regardless of inflation. A free energy efficiency audit and household upgrade are also included in the monthly cost.

“We just thought it made sense,” Tom Neyhart, CEO of PosiGen told InsideClimate News. “The savings from solar alone… it wasn’t substantial enough,” he said. But the savings are greatest when you not only produce at least some of your own power, but also get more mileage from energy efficiency upgrades, Neyhart said, like installing new thermostats. and light bulbs, insulating pipes and hot water. radiators and reduce leaks in the attic.

The program offered by Connecticut congregations goes further. Starting in a few weeks, the faith-based organizations that support the program will organize information sessions open to all members of their community. People who attend and register for one of these meetings over the next year can lock in a cost of $ 20 per month for the first three months.

PosiGen, along with the Connecticut Green Climate Bank, ran a similar promotion for the entire city of Bridgeport last year. An identical initiative was launched in New Haven and will continue until March. More than a hundred people have already registered with PosiGen in the state. Even more cities in Connecticut are expected to adopt the program this year, according to Beth Galante, vice president of business development at PosiGen.

PosiGen can cut costs by providing a single, one-size-fits-all, 6-kilowatt solar panel, as well as by hiring workers and contractors locally. The company also enjoys the benefits of the incentive program or state or federal tax credits, such as the federal tax incentive for the solar industry which has been extended beyond 2020. Although the 6-kilowatt system is not supposed to meet all of the electrical needs of every house. , this can help reduce the load considerably, according to PosiGen.