Solar Assistance
Fighting Energy Poverty with Solar Power
Energy Poverty
Although scarcely on the societal radar, “energy poverty” is a pervasive social problem affecting over 33 million American households.
On average, low-income households must spend about a fifth of their total income on energy-related expenses, straining already tight budgets.
Struggling families are forced to make the impossible choice between home energy costs and other basic necessities, such as food and medical care.
Fortunately, families can receive support through public assistance, but a stopgap is not a solution. At the national level, we are hemorrhaging public resources without providing a long-term solution or addressing the root causes of energy poverty.
RREAL has a long-term solution to energy poverty!
Solar Assistance
Since 2000, RREAL has been dedicated to making solar energy accessible to communities of all income levels.
Through our Solar Assistance program, we provide solar arrays for low-income families and communities as a way to serve more people in need and ensure that everyone can have access to safe, clean, and reliable energy.
RREAL combats energy poverty by providing solar energy systems for homes, affordable housing projects, and community solar arrays through three Solar Assistance programs. This program has empowered families and communities across the Midwest, U.S., and the world!
This report aims to accelerate the implementation of solar in under-resourced communities in ways that provide meaningful, long-lasting benefits to those communities. The recommendations in the report set a path forward for increasing solar deployments that result in significant economic, equity, and environmental improvements.
RREAL's Solar Assistance Programs
Solar Assistance Programs
Testimonials
“…after the installation of the [solar] heating unit, this winter we only used 40% of fuel on one [propane] tank fill, this would relate to a 75% fuel savings this year, at the cost of propane this winter it amounted to a savings of about $1000.”
Paul Johnson,
Solar Assistance recipient
Pillager, MN
Projects
LEECH LAKE CS4CA
100% low-income community solar array at the Prescott Community Center on the Leech Lake Reservation.
Solar for Humanity
Solar for Humanity works with Habitat for Humanity affiliates to install solar to reduce energy costs for homeowners, fitting both Habitat and RREAL's mission.
Community Solar for Community Action
Community Solar for Community Action works with Energy Assistance providers to install community solar arrays that serve more low-income families.