Bringing Solar Power to the People

This case study describes RMI's efforts to make rooftop solar more accessible to low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities through inclusive Solarize campaigns. Between 2021 and 2022, RMI organized cohorts of 27 cities to implement bulk-purchasing programs combined with grants and community partnerships to reduce financial and administrative barriers to solar adoption.

• RMI organized Solarize cohorts in 2021 and 2022 involving 27 cities to increase solar access for low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. These campaigns utilize bulk purchases to lower equipment costs and streamline permitting and construction processes.
• To address the prohibitive upfront costs for LMI households, RMI focused on integrating grants and financing. For instance, Solarize Asheville-Buncombe used over $100,000 in local government funds to fully fund installations for lower-income residents, resulting in significant monthly electricity bill reductions for participants.
• The RMI Solarize cohorts resulted in nearly 1,200 households installing over 10 megawatts (MW) of residential solar. These installations are projected to avoid more than 106,000 tons of CO2 emissions and save households over $8 million over a 25-year lifespan. Approximately 40 percent of participating households were from LMI or Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
• RMI collaborated with national partners Solar Crowdsource and Solar United Neighbors (SUN) to scale these efforts. Solar Crowdsource organized six campaigns across Georgia, Hawaii, Missouri, North Carolina, and Oklahoma, helping over 500 homeowners. SUN formed eight solar co-ops in Ohio, Florida, and Texas, assisting 250 homeowners.

APA

RMI (2023). Bringing Solar Power to the People. https://rmi.org/resources/bringing-solar-power-to-the-people/

Chicago

RMI. Bringing Solar Power to the People. 2023. https://rmi.org/resources/bringing-solar-power-to-the-people/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Bringing Solar Power to the People |date=9 May 2023 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/bringing-solar-power-to-the-people/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2023bringing, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Bringing Solar Power to the People}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/bringing-solar-power-to-the-people/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }