Solar For All

In 2015, the Connecticut Green Bank launched a solar program for low- and moderate-income (LMI) homeowners. At its core, the program involves 1) an elevated LMI solar incentive, and 2) public support for solar providers to enter the LMI solar market. PosiGen was the first solar company to be approved for Connecticut Green Bank’s LMI solar incentive and to receive program support to enter the state’s LMI market. Since 2015, Connecticut Green Bank has successfully supported more than 3,000 solar installations for LMI homeowners in Connecticut.

Solar for All paired energy efficiency with rooftop solar to maximize savings. The model includes standard solar system sizing and fixed monthly pricing to reduce sales complexity and increase operational efficiencies.
Contracts have no upfront costs for participants and guarantee customer savings without hidden fees or escalating lease payments over time. As a result, the program experienced very few defaults.

PosiGen provided customers with a solar lease. PosiGen and its financial partners own the systems and monetize the federal tax credit, which, coupled with an elevated LMI solar incentive provided by the Green Bank, enabled affordable and predictable prices to customers.
Using alternative underwriting to qualify customers, the offering was open to households regardless of their income or credit score.

Program Stats:

The Green Bank partnered with PosiGen on the Solar for All program from July 2015 through December 2021, when the Green Bank’s solar incentive program closed.
The Green Bank’s partnership with PosiGen resulted in over 4,400 solar PV projects, collectively amounting to about 29 MW of new solar capacity. 67% of PosiGen’s projects in Connecticut are in LMI census tracts. (as of December, 31, 2021)
The Green Bank and PosiGen jointly ran targeted marketing campaigns in underserved communities. Approximately 60% of the resulting solar projects are in census tracts below the area median income. Previous community campaigns include Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford, New London, Hamden, Greater Hartford, and Middletown.

The program has been particularly effective at reaching communities of color.
An elevated incentive was offered for households that earn less than 100 percent of area median income. The Green Bank’s LMI solar incentive was nearly three times its standard solar incentive.
Solar for All was a public-private partnership that combined marketing and financing. The Green Bank supplied $5 million in debt capital and leveraged its initial investment to attract an additional $5 million from a private lender to start the program.
Supported by the Solar for All program, solar in LMI communities in Connecticut grew by 320%between 2015 and 2020.

Previous customers:

“No money down, no credit check means no brainer. If you can save a penny with PosiGen, then why wouldn’t you do it? Going solar had an earthquake of an impact on my bill.” — Peter, went solar in May 2016

“We have got to do it [go solar] for the grandkids. We’ve got to save the earth one person at a time.”
— Coretta, went solar in July 2019

“I went solar because my bills were so high and I heard good referrals about PosiGen.”
— Chad with son Justin, they went solar in April 2019

“Everyone said it was crazy to go solar, now they all want it. People don’t realize there are savings. Our bill during the winter was $460 and now it is $15.” — Melvin, who went solar in June 2015 and convinced three neighbors to also go solar with PosiGen