California is committed to expanding access to clean, renewable energy, particularly for communities that have historically been disproportionately burdened by pollution. In 2019, significant guidelines were established to bolster solar energy adoption within disadvantaged communities (DACs) through programs like DAC-SASH, DAC-GT, and CSGT. These initiatives are intrinsically linked to programs like CARE (California Alternate Rates for Energy) and FERA (Family Electric Rate Assistance), ensuring that income-qualified households can benefit from clean energy incentives. This article delves into the 2019 guidelines that shaped these programs, offering a comprehensive overview for residents and stakeholders alike.
To determine if your community qualifies for these impactful solar programs, you can utilize the CalEnviroScreen map to check your address. For income-eligible homeowners residing in qualifying communities, the GRID Alternatives website provides detailed information about accessing solar installations through the DAC-SASH program.
The Genesis of Solar Programs for Disadvantaged Communities
The mandate to develop these targeted solar programs originated from Assembly Bill (AB) 327, passed in 2013. This bill directed the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to create alternatives specifically designed to increase the deployment of renewable energy generation in DACs. Responding to this directive, the CPUC, in June 2018, established three key programs under Decision D.18-06-027. These programs are designed to operate within the service territories of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).
These landmark programs are:
- Disadvantaged Communities – Single-family Solar Homes (DAC-SASH)
- Disadvantaged Communities – Green Tariff (DAC-GT)
- Community Solar Green Tariff (CSGT)
Each program is uniquely structured to address different barriers to solar adoption within DACs, ensuring a multifaceted approach to expanding clean energy access.
1. Disadvantaged Communities – Single-family Solar Homes (DAC-SASH)
The DAC-SASH program is a cornerstone initiative providing income-qualified homeowners in DACs with the opportunity to receive no-cost rooftop solar installations. This program directly tackles the financial barriers that often prevent low-income households from accessing solar energy. Administered by GRID Alternatives, DAC-SASH is actively accepting applications and has a proven track record of successful installations.
GRID Alternatives plays a crucial role in the DAC-SASH program, managing applications, overseeing installations, and providing valuable community outreach and education. Their expertise ensures the program effectively reaches and benefits the intended communities. For homeowners interested in exploring this opportunity, visiting the GRID Alternatives’ website is the first step to determine eligibility and begin the application process. Further details about program evaluations and performance can be found at the bottom of the program page under “Events and Documents,” offering transparency and accountability.
2. Disadvantaged Communities – Green Tariff (DAC-GT)
The DAC-GT program is designed for income-qualified residential customers in DACs who may not be able to install solar panels directly on their properties, perhaps due to renting or unsuitable roof conditions. This program offers a unique solution: it allows participants to benefit from utility-scale clean energy while receiving a significant 20% discount on their electricity bills.
Inspired by the Green Tariff component of the broader Green Tariff/Shared Renewables Programs, DAC-GT extends the benefits of renewable energy to a wider range of households within disadvantaged communities. Eligibility for DAC-GT is linked to participation in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) and Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) programs, ensuring that the benefits are directed to those most in need. These 2019 guidelines clearly tie DAC-GT eligibility to existing low-income assistance programs, streamlining access for qualifying residents.
Since its launch by PG&E in February 2020, DAC-GT has seen significant uptake, with automatic enrollment of eligible customers up to program capacity, as outlined in D.20-07-008. Clean Power Alliance followed suit in January 2021, and numerous Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) are actively involved in project solicitations, expanding the reach of the DAC-GT program across California.
3. Community Solar Green Tariff (CSGT)
The Community Solar Green Tariff (CSGT) program takes a localized approach, enabling residential customers in DACs to benefit from local solar projects and also receive a 20% bill discount. Similar to DAC-GT, CSGT is tailored for those unable to install rooftop solar, but with an emphasis on community-based projects.
A key feature of CSGT is the involvement of a local non-profit or government entity as a “community sponsor.” These sponsors play a vital role in fostering community interest, identifying suitable project locations, and acting as a liaison between the community and the utility or CCA. Sponsors themselves can also receive incentives, further strengthening community engagement and ownership in these solar initiatives. The CSGT program emphasizes local generation and local benefit, fostering a stronger connection between renewable energy and the communities it serves.
Like DAC-GT, the CSGT program is being implemented by the major investor-owned utilities and a growing number of CCAs, ensuring broad availability across different service areas in California.
Defining Eligible Disadvantaged Communities
To accurately define which communities qualify as “disadvantaged” for these solar programs, the CPUC relies on CalEnviroScreen. CalEnviroScreen is a crucial tool that identifies California communities, down to the census tract level, that are disproportionately affected by and vulnerable to multiple sources of pollution. This scientific tool underpins the equity focus of the 2019 program guidelines.
For the purpose of these solar programs, a “disadvantaged community” is defined as one appearing in the top 25 percent of census tracts statewide according to CalEnviroScreen. Additionally, the definition includes 22 specific census tracts that, while ranking in the highest 5 percent for pollution burden, lack an overall CalEnviroScreen score due to data limitations. Prospective participants can easily explore DAC eligibility for these solar programs through the interactive map available here. This clear definition ensures that program benefits are directed to the communities most environmentally and economically vulnerable.
For further information on the CPUC’s broader initiatives concerning disadvantaged communities, you can visit this page.
Programmatic Details: DAC-SASH, DAC-GT, and CSGT
Disadvantaged Communities – Single-family Solar Homes (DAC-SASH) in Detail
DAC-SASH, drawing inspiration from the Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) Program, offers up-front financial incentives to facilitate rooftop solar system installations. These incentives are specifically structured to overcome financial hurdles faced by low-income DAC residents, such as limited access to capital or credit for solar financing.
Beyond financial assistance, DAC-SASH incorporates job training objectives, aiming to cultivate green-collar jobs within low-income communities and develop a skilled workforce to support a sustainable solar industry in California. GRID Alternatives, selected as the statewide program administrator through a competitive process, embodies this workforce development goal. The CPUC formally launched DAC-SASH with the approval of GRID’s Program Handbook and Implementation Plan in Resolution E-5020 on September 12, 2019. The current handbook was updated and approved in 2022, reflecting program evolution and refinement beyond the initial 2019 guidelines.
The Semi-Annual Progress Report for July 2024 provides detailed insights into the program’s progress across California’s three utility service territories. To apply for DAC-SASH and learn more about program implementation, please visit GRID’s DAC-SASH website. Geographic eligibility can be verified by address using the State’s CES 4.0 map.
Evaluations of DAC-SASH and its predecessor SASH, conducted by Evergreen Economics and Brightline Group as directed by CPUC Decisions (D.) 15-01-027 and D.18-06-027, are available under the “Events and Documents” section for further review.
Key highlights of the DAC-SASH Program through February 2023 showcase its impact:
- Over 1,729 PV systems installed and interconnected.
- Approximately $14.2 million in incentives distributed, representing 54.5 MW of solar capacity.
- Nearly 2,000 low-income homeowners referred to utility Energy Savings Assistance Programs (ESA), with about one-third enrolling.
| Eligible customers: | Income-qualified, single-family homeowners in DACs (must be eligible for CARE or FERA) |
|---|---|
| Customers receive: | $3/watt incentives for onsite solar system installation and energy efficiency training |
| Project location: | In DACs on qualified customer’s property |
| Project size: | 1 kilowatt (kW) – 5 kilowatts (kW) |
| Program budget: | $120 million total ($10 million per year 2019 – 2030) |
Disadvantaged Communities – Green Tariff (DAC-GT) in Detail
The DAC-GT program, modeled after the Green Tariff portion of the Green Tariff/Shared Renewables Program (GTSR), broadens access to solar benefits. It specifically targets customers unable to participate in onsite solar programs like SOMAH or DAC-SASH.
CPUC Resolution E-4999 approved the implementation plans for DAC-GT submitted by PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E, marking a crucial step in program rollout.
| Eligible customers: | Income-eligible residential customers in DACs (must be eligible for CARE or FERA) |
|---|---|
| Customers receive: | 100% renewable energy and a 20% discount on their standard electric rate |
| Project location: | In DACs |
| Project size: | 500 kilowatts (kW) – 20 megawatts (MW) |
| Program capacity: | PG&E: 70 MW, SCE: 70 MW, SDG&E: 18 MW (Capacity caps within each utility’s service territory, with some reserved for CCAs) |
For the most current information and updates, please refer to the dedicated DAC-GT program link.
Community Solar Green Tariff (CSGT) in Detail
The Community Solar Green Tariff (CSGT) program, a variation of the Green Tariff/Shared Renewables Program, shares similarities with DAC-GT but emphasizes local project development. CSGT mandates that solar projects be located near the communities they serve, fostering local benefits and grid resilience.
CSGT uniquely incorporates community engagement through community sponsors. These sponsors, typically local non-profits or government bodies, are essential for gauging community interest and facilitating project siting. Eligible community sponsors can receive a 20 percent bill discount on up to 25 percent of a CSGT project’s energy output, incentivizing their active participation and ensuring community benefits are maximized.
| Eligible customers: | Residential customers in DACs or in San Joaquin Valley (SJV) pilot communities (identified in R.15-03-010). (50% of project output must be subscribed by CARE or FERA eligible customers) |
|---|---|
| Customers receive: | 100% renewable energy and a 20% discount on their standard electric rate |
| Project location: | In DACs, within 5 miles of DACs where subscribing customers reside, or within 40 miles for SJV pilot communities |
| Project size: | No minimum size ~ 4.4* MW (*SCE max project size: 4.4 MW, PG&E max: 4.3 MW, other jurisdictions capped at 3 MW) |
| Program capacity: | PG&E: 18 MW, SCE: 18 MW, SDG&E: 5 MW (Capacity caps within each utility’s service territory, with some reserved for CCAs) |
For the latest details and updates, please consult the CSGT program link.
Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) and DAC Solar Programs
Decision 18-06-027 explicitly authorized Community Choice Aggregators (CCAs) to establish their own DAC-GT and CSGT programs, provided they adhere to all the rules and requirements outlined in the Decision. This authorization empowers local energy providers to tailor programs to their specific community needs and accelerate the deployment of solar energy in DACs.
To facilitate CCA program implementation, the Energy Division hosted a public workshop on September 16, 2019. The workshop agenda is accessible here, and presentations are available here and here. These resources, though for discussion purposes, offer valuable insights into the collaborative efforts to expand solar access through CCAs.
Conclusion
The 2019 guidelines for California’s DAC solar programs represent a significant step towards energy equity and environmental justice. By focusing on disadvantaged communities and leveraging programs like CARE and FERA for eligibility, these initiatives are designed to ensure that the benefits of clean, renewable energy are accessible to all Californians, regardless of income level. Programs like DAC-SASH, DAC-GT, and CSGT offer varied pathways for DAC residents to participate in the solar revolution, whether through rooftop installations, utility-scale green tariffs, or community-based projects. For those seeking to learn more or determine their eligibility, resources like the CalEnviroScreen map and the GRID Alternatives website are invaluable starting points. California’s commitment to these programs signals a continued dedication to a cleaner, more equitable energy future.
