Sunrun debuts Sand Creek solar installs, covering 60 lower-income rentals
Sunrun made a commitment in 2018 to develop 100 MW of solar for use on affordable multifamily housing in California by 2030 with the state Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program. Additionally, in 2021, Sunrun pledged to make at least 500 MW of low-income solar accessible to people throughout the United States by 2030. This week, Sunrun and Self-Help Enterprises debuted a new solar installation to benefit 60 affordable rental homes in the San Joaquin Valley.
“I’m thrilled that Sunrun and Self-Help Enterprises are expanding solar access and bill savings to renters living in the Central Valley,” said Lynn Jurich, Sunrun’s CEO and co-founder. “This partnership is just getting started.”
The Sand Creek solar project is 138 kW, which provides a savings of nearly $50 per month for residents. This is not the first time Sunrun and Self-Help Enterprises have worked together. To date, five solar projects using Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) funding have been completed. The two companies have 14 additional joint projects in development across California via the SOMAH program.
“We are excited for our residents at Sand Creek Apartments, who will be saving nearly $50 a month on their utility bills,” said Tom Collishaw, CEO of Self-Help Enterprises. “This means more money in their pockets for other necessities such as groceries and transportation. It’s partnerships like these that make a real difference in people’s standard of living.”
SOMAH has a significant focus on workforce development and tenant engagement. Each SOMAH project, including Sand Creek, offers paid job training opportunities in the rapidly growing clean energy sector.
“We were thrilled to see a tenant of the Sand Creek property participate as a job trainee on this project, as well as a student from a local job training partner, William M. Maguy School of Education of Proteus, Inc. in Visalia,” said Staci Hoell, Workforce Development Manager with the SOMAH Program Administrator team. “The SOMAH PA applauds the coordination between Self-Help Enterprises and Sunrun to offer on-the-job solar installation training to their tenants and local community.”
Comments are closed here.