Cristy Villalobos-Hauser, NHRC Housing Policy Manager
October 15, 2024

 

Are you looking to expand your housing counseling business?

Earlier this year, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a $7 Billion Solar for All program to deliver residential solar energy to low-income households. This initiative would help families save $350 million annually by advancing environmental justice in the United States by assisting families to access solar energy.

The Inflation Reduction Act’s Solar for All program will provide funds to states, territories, Tribal governments, and nonprofits to develop impactful solar programs that empower low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from distributed residential solar. This program would lower energy costs for families while creating jobs and advancing environmental justice to address climate change.

 

 

Solar electricity leads to reduced monthly utility bills, and reduced levels of air pollution in neighborhoods, but too often low-income and disadvantaged communities have been historically left out or taken advantage of by private sector solar panel companies with predatory financing options.

The National Housing Resource Center (NHRC) is piloting a Home Energy Advisor program to train and educate housing counselors on becoming Home Energy Advisors to reach underserved households eligible for energy rebates and the Solar for All program. Housing counseling agencies have an on-the-ground presence with skilled counselors who could provide the information needed to assist households in applying for energy rebate programs and the Solar for All program.

Housing counseling agencies are uniquely positioned to provide essential information and community support. As Home Energy Advisors, you can guide households through the often-complex landscape of energy upgrades and rebates, addressing a significant consumer need for independent advice in this area.

With significant funding available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for energy rebates and upgrades, there is an opportunity for housing counseling agencies to take on a pivotal role as Home Energy Advisors. Your state Department of Energy can allocate IRA funds to support the Home Energy Advisor role—if you advocate for the inclusion of HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in their plans submitted to the EPA.

We have developed a coalition of individuals to ensure that we coordinate to share training information, funding opportunities, and other program information. 

We are seeking individuals to form a coalition to:

  • Help develop comprehensive training materials
  • Identify funding opportunities
  • Share program information
  • Protect consumers in the Solar Energy space

Interested in learning more? Join Our Home Energy Coalition by following this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1erg2IdF4Ox8kJdZrMwGbjTJXOwlWIiRK2K4cs9UeN6g/viewform?edit_requested=true

We look forward to staying in touch with you. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Cristy at chauser@hsgcenter.org