INNOVATIVE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP BEGINS “SOLAR FOR ALL CALIFORNIA” INSTALLATION TRAINING PROGRAM
“Solar for California” pilot program to provide no cost solar power for low-income multi-family residents
Main Street Power Company, Inc., a national solar finance company, today begins the citizen training component of the no cost solar energy pilot program it is implementing in partnership with MS Solar Solutions Corp., Central Coast Energy Services and California Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Providers. The program is designed to deliver no cost solar power to income-qualified residents of multi-family units across the state of California.
“This training is a very exciting step in our program and marks the beginning of our combined efforts to train local California non-profit LIHEAP weatherization agencies in the new and growing green energy economy. This solar installation training will be lead by our program partners, Zep Solar, Enphase Energy and Canadian Solar,” stated Arleen Novotney, Executive Director of the Association of California Community Energy Services (ACCES). ACCES is the statewide association of LIHEAP Providers directing the implementation of the projects.
According to Ric Tan, Main Street Power’s Vice President, “our hands-on training program is the culmination of months of coordinated planning and team work. Together ACCESS, Main Street Power, and MS Solar Solutions, are demonstrating how to provide innovative financing options to the low income renewable energy space.”
Morgan Stanley Vice President Martin Mobley stated, “This project provides an incredible opportunity for community based organizations that employ many local residents to gain valuable experience in the growing field of solar energy. MS Solar Solutions is proud to partner on this important solar education and training program that will provide real world job skills to its participants.”
Program Specifics
The two-day training program will teach over 30 LIHEAP agency employees how to perform basic residential solar installation work. The systems they install will provide no cost solar power benefiting over 1000 residential units. Collectively, the solar systems will produce about 1,575,000 kWh of electricity annually, which would offset 1,131 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. This is equivalent to the removal of 216 automobiles per year or the carbon sequestered annually by 241 acres of pine trees.