Here is another Nonprofit project that only the few select can cash in on. Notice how the requirements are associated with Nonprofits:
http://www.gridalternatives.org/sash
Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH)
Overview
The Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) Program, a California Solar Initiative program, is funded by California ratepayers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) . GRID Alternatives manages the SASH Program on behalf of the CPUC. The goal of the program is to provide qualifying low-income homeowners with access to photovoltaic (PV) systems to decrease electricity usage and bills without increasing monthly household expenses. In addition to providing low-income homeowners with reduced electricity bills, the SASH Program will also benefit the communities it serves by leveraging local green-job training and workforce development programs to assist with installing the solar systems.To decrease the expense burden for low-income homeowners, the SASH Program provides eligible homeowners with a higher incentive than the California Solar Initiative (CSI) general market program (see “Incentives” section for details).
Homeowners - To see if you qualify for the SASH program please email us at
sash@gridalternatives.org or call (866) 921-4696.
Contractors - If your company is interested in becoming a SASH Subcontractor Partner please complete the Subcontractor Partnership Program (SPP) Application.
Downloadable SASH Brochures:
Who Qualifies
To qualify for the SASH Program, the Applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:
A. The project’s Site must be within the service territory of, and receive electric service from PG&E, SCE, or SDG&E.
B. The residence must be occupied by the homeowner/applicant.
C. The household’s total income must be 80% of the area median income (AMI) or less based on the most recent available income tax return.
*Area Median Income is subject to annual changes based upon Housing and Urban Development's income guidelines.
D. The residence must meet the California Public Utilities (P.U.) Code 2852 affordable housing requirement, defined as one of the following:
1) An individual owner-occupied residence sold at an affordable housing cost to a lower income household that is subject to:
a. a resale restriction, or;
b. an equity sharing agreement for which the homeowner does not receive a greater share of equity than described in paragraph (2) of subdivision(c) of Section 65915 of the Government Code.
The resale restriction or equity sharing agreement must be held with a public entity or a qualifying 501(c)(3)nonprofit affordable housing provider.
2) An owner-occupied residence that is part of a multi-family complex and is financed with low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt mortgage revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, or local, state, or federal loans or grants, and where the affordable units have been or will be initially sold at an affordable housing cost to a lower income household and those units are subject to a resale restriction or equity sharing agreement pursuant to the terms of the financing or financial assistance.
3) An owner-occupied residence that is part of a multi-family complex inwhich at least 20 percent of the total housing units have been or willbe initially sold at an affordable cost to a lower income household andthose units are subject to:
a. a resale restriction, or;
b. an equity sharing agreement for which the homeowner does not receive agreater share of equity than described in paragraph (2) of subdivision(c) of Section 65915 of the Government Code.
The resale restriction or equity sharing agreement must be held with a public entity or a qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit affordable housing provider.
Incentives
Installations will be provided a one-time payment under the Expected Performance Based Buydown (EPBB) structure to help reduce the cost of installation. The SASH Program only offers the EPBB incentive and does not offer the Performance Based Incentive (PBI). The SASH Program has seven incentive payment levels based on the applicant’s income compared to the area median income (AMI), tax liability, and eligibility in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program (check with your electric utility provider for more information on CARE).
Fully Subsidized (Free Systems) - The SASH Program provides a full-subsidy for 1 kW systems to owner-occupied households that qualify as “extremely low income” or “very low income” (i.e., up to 50% of area median income). This SASH incentive is capped at a maximum of $10,000 per qualifying household. A household that qualifies for a free system can either install the free 1 kW system or take a partial subsidy, as described in the table below, for a larger system.
Highly Subsidized Systems - A substantial subsidy is available to customers whose total household income is below 80% of the area median income. This subsidy is calculated on a sliding-scale that is based on the homeowner’s tax liability and the customer’s eligibility and participation in the CARE program. If the Applicant qualifies for the CARE program but is not currently enrolled, GRID Alternatives will work with the Applicant to enroll them into the CARE program.
SASH Program: Solar Incentives in $/Watt
Federal Income Tax Liability Qualifying Low-Income CARE-Eligible Homeowners Qualifying Low-Income Homeowners not eligible for CARE
$0 $7.00/W $5.75/W
$1 to $1000 $6.50/W $5.25/W
$1001 + $6.00/W $4.75/W
Application & Installation Processes
1. Potential applicants can contact GRID Alternatives toll-free at (866) 921-4696 or e-mail
sash@gridalternatives.org to see if you qualify for the SASH Program. After an initial pre-screening phone conversation, GRID Alternatives will set up a meeting with the Applicant to discuss the details of the SASH Program, complete an application, and answer any questions.
2. GRID Alternatives will review all applications and ensure their completeness and confirm all required documentation has been provided. The following documents are required:
i. Completed SASH Application
ii.Copy of most recent available federal income tax return
iii. Copy of most recent electricity bill
iv. Proof that the residence is California Public Utilities Code 2852 compliant.
3. If the Applicant qualifies for the SASH program, a Construction site visit will be scheduled to determine if the Site is suitable for a PV-solar installation. A printout of CSI EPBB Calculator will be required to ensure the system design meets the 95% Design Factor requirement (to be completed by the installer).
4. Upon completion of the system design, the Applicant will receive notification from GRID Alternatives confirming the incentive reservation. *Incentive funds are not reserved until GRID Alternatives receives all information and documentation required for the Reservation and the project is approved.
5. The project will then be scheduled and installed. After the system installation is complete, the system must be inspected and utility interconnected before the incentive is paid.