Renewable Properties has announced that it has signed five project PPAs with PG&E. This brings the benefits of clean solar energy to California homes that cannot install solar onsite.
The five solar projects, totaling approximately 30 MW, are part of California’s Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) and Community Solar Green Tariff (CS-GT) programs enacted in 2013 by Congressional Bill 327. The CS-GT is branded by PG&E as a “local green saver.” is designed to facilitate the installation of community solar projects in disadvantaged communities, as defined by CalEnviroScreen. Eligible residents benefit from 100% offsite solar power and receive a 20% billing credit on their PG&E bill.
Brian von Moos, Chief Development Officer at Renewable Properties, said: “This project will allow low-income households to save money on their electricity bills without having to install solar on their roofs.”
The five projects will fill the remaining capacity of PG&E’s Green Tariff Program in Disadvantaged Areas. Energy storage may be added to the project in the future.
The first three projects, East Cleveland Solar and Avenue 26 Solar Phase I and Phase II, will begin construction in early spring 2023 and are expected to be completed by the end of 2023. Avenue 26 Solar Phases I and II will be built in Madera County.
The 7 MW Althea Avenue Solar project, which will begin construction in late December 2023, will be built in Fresno County. The project is expected to be completed by September 2024.
Renewable Properties will also build the Canyon Road Solar Project in Merced County, California, with construction beginning in March 2024 and expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Following last year’s passage of Assembly B 2316, the Community Renewable Energy Act, California will further expand community solar across the state with a program currently being developed by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) intend to do something. The new law includes a requirement that 51% of programs serve low-income customers and encourage community solar projects to incorporate energy storage.
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