Title
Honoring and thanking the Philadelphia Energy Authority for its Solar Savings Grant Program.
Body
WHEREAS, The generating of energy which produces no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and reduces air pollution is necessary to Philadelphia in order to provide the citizens Constitutional guarantee of a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic values of the environment; and
WHEREAS, Climate change, as a result of burning fossil fuels for energy, is responsible for the denigration of public health, which disproportionately affects low-income communities, communities of color, and urban communities who most often have to deal directly with the consequences of polluting power plants and the health risks that accompany living within close proximity to these non-renewable energy sources; and
WHEREAS, Energy insecurity means forgoing food or medicine to pay for utilities, setting the home to an unsafe or unhealthy temperature, or being at risk of utility shutoff; and
WHEREAS, Low- and moderate-income households and people of color disproportionately deal with energy insecurity and often lack access to affordable energy provided by rooftop solar; and
WHEREAS, The Solar Savings Grant Program is the City’s first program to support low-income homeowners to access rooftop solar; and
WHEREAS, The Solar Savings Grant Program supports low- and moderate-income households to go solar at no upfront cost through Solarize Philly. Households start seeing savings in Year 1 through a combination of a subsidy and low-cost financing; and
WHEREAS, The 2020 pilot of the Solar Savings Grant Program included 50 low- and moderate-income homeowners from 26 different zip codes. Eligibility was determined based on households earning less than 80% of Area Median Income and having paid their PECO bill on-time for 12 months. There was no minimum FICO score for participation in the pilot; and
WHEREAS, The Solar Savings Grant Program provides a long-term affordable energy source with panels warrantied to produce for 25 years; and
WHEREAS, The Program was made possible by funding from Solarize Philly program fees, a grant from the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, and discounted pricing offered by Solar States, the installation partner for the program; and
WHEREAS, The customer loans were primarily funded by Centennial Parkside Community Development Corporation using grant funds from the William Penn Foundation and Spark Therapeutics, supported by tax credits from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Additional loan funds were provided by Firstrust Bank. The customer loans are being originated and serviced by the National Energy Improvement Fund; and
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Energy Authority aims to support 1,000 low- and moderate-income households to go solar by 2026; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, The City Council of Philadelphia, Honors and thanks the Philadelphia Energy Authority for its Solar Savings Grant Program.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Philadelphia Energy Authority, further evidencing the sincere respect of this legislative body.
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