Bill > S1713

This bill, titled the "Low-Income Solar Act," aims to establish a program managed by the Secretary of Energy to provide loans and grants for solar installations specifically in low-income and underserved areas. The program defines key terms such as "community solar facility" (a solar project of 2 megawatts or less owned by a subscriber organization that reserves at least 25% of its electricity for low-income households), "grant-eligible household" (households earning 80% or less of the area median income and owning their homes), and "loan-eligible entity" (which includes non-profits, government units, Indian tribes, rural communities, and other entities with experience in solar deployment and job training). The bill allocates funding, with up to 50% of available funds designated for loans to loan-eligible entities for community solar facilities or multi-family affordable housing solar installations, and the remainder for grants to grant-eligible households to cover upfront costs or other eligible uses. The program emphasizes innovative installation and financing models, job training, community engagement, consumer protection, and geographical diversity, prioritizing areas with low solar penetration, rural areas, Indian tribal areas, and other underserved communities. Recipients must enter into loan or grant agreements, and funds must be used for solar equipment, installation, job training, deployment support, and administrative expenses (capped at 15%). The bill authorizes $200 million annually for fiscal years 2016 through 2030 for this program.