PHILADELPHIA ENERGY AUTHORITY
Solarize Philly Program has Tripled in Size Following the Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act

• 3,300 Households Have Gone Solar With Solarize Philly, Representing $64MM In Investment In Our Local Clean Energy Economy, Further Expansion on the Horizon
• Visit to Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia's first rooftop solar project exemplifies the cost-saving, climate change-fighting clean energy projects supported by the IRA
• Announcement kicks off sixth annual Solar Week in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA), the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp., partners, and City leadership kicked off Philadelphia's sixth annual Solar Week with an update on the growth of the Solarize Philly Program in the wake of the historic Inflation Reduction Act (IRA.) The announcement was held at Coltrane Commons, Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia's (Habitat Philadelphia) inaugural rooftop solar project. 

Solarize Philly is PEA's rooftop solar program designed to help all Philadelphians go solar. To date, Solarize Philly has helped 3,300 households go solar, totalling $64 million in investment in our local clean energy economy. The Solarize Philly program has tripled in size since Solar Week 2022, the same week the IRA passed. 

The IRA is a nearly $370 billion investment - the largest ever made - by the federal government in solutions to combat climate change. The IRA includes grants, loans, rebates, and tax incentives, to support the growth of the clean energy economy with an emphasis on uplifting communities most impacted by the effects of climate change. 

Philadelphia is among the most energy burdened cities in the country with 26% of all households paying more than 6% of their income on energy bills. Rooftop solar not only reduces costs to homeowners but is also a clean energy resource that helps combat climate change by displacing energy generated by fossil fuels. The IRA both extended the Investment Tax Credit, reducing the cost of solar projects by at least 30%, and added bonuses for low-income communities and energy communities to make solar even more affordable. Solarize Philly's growth has reflected this equitable investment in its impressive growth, with 51% of its participating households qualifying as low-income. 

In the coming months, additional IRA resources will be available to assist low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDAC) transition to affordable clean energy at home including Pennsylvania's $156MM Solar for All grant award as well as Pennsylvania's $259MM Home Energy Rebate program. To ensure that IRA dollars reach LIDAC households, PEA, in partnership with PGCC, is expanding Solarize Philly to Solarize Greater Philadelphia, encompassing the 5-county area, and PGCC is expanding its offerings to include a solar lease to the same geography in partnership with Capital Good Fund. Capital Good Fund, with its PA BRIGHT Program, will be working with Solarize Philly installers to support leases at 60 low-income homes in an initial pilot  in Southeast PA.  

Habitat Philadelphia's inaugural solar project exemplifies the kinds of IRA-driven efficient, clean energy projects that will bring financial relief to households and combat climate change within communities most impacted by its effects in the coming years. Five units at Coltrane Commons will feature ultra-energy efficient, all-electric, ENERGY STAR Certified Homes. Rooftop solar, installed by Exact Solar, a Solarize Philly installer partner, will cover approximately 74% of each home's electricity use, resulting in long-term energy utility affordability for the homeowners. 

"There's no better way to kick off Solar Week than to share that 3,300 Philadelphia households have gone solar through Solarize Philly," said Alon Abramson, Vice President of Residential Programs for the Philadelphia Energy Authority. "The Inflation Reduction Act has supercharged clean energy deployment in our region, lowering costs, improving climate resilience, and creating jobs for our local, well-trained clean energy workforce."

"PGCC is ecstatic to expand PEA's solar offerings to low-income rooftops throughout Southeast Pennsylvania with our new solar lease program," said Maryrose Myrtetus, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp. "This once-in-a-generation IRA investment is flipping on its head who benefits from the clean energy transition. We are honored to be a part of it."

"Solarize Philly is exactly the kind of successful local program that the federal clean energy plan was designed to support and expand," said Climate Power Interim States Managing Director André Crombie. "It's bringing cheaper, cleaner power to families across Philadelphia and is poised to deliver much more through the federal clean energy plan, the most significant climate investment in American history."

"We're delighted that our inaugural solar project can serve as an example of Philadelphia's affordable clean energy future, said Corinne O'Connell, CEO at Habitat Philadelphia. "We look forward to working with the expanded Solarize Philly program to bring cost-saving, clean energy to many more Habitat homeowners by leveraging IRA dollars."

"Affordability is a significant hurdle for first-time home buyers," said Adrienne Dolberry, Habitat Philadelphia homeowner. "I knew that my Habitat home would be energy-efficient, and now with the solar panels, my bills are going to be even lower. It's great that more Philadelphia homeowners will have access to this opportunity."

"Supporting greater solar energy development is a top priority for PECO as part of our effort to provide a cleaner, brighter future for southeastern Pennsylvania," said Doug Oliver, PECO Senior Vice President of Governmental, Regulatory and External Affairs. "The Inflation Reduction Act will be critical to this effort and we look forward to being a key partner with PEA to leverage federal funding to help make solar more accessible for our customers and communities."

Now in its sixth year, Philadelphia Solar Week is a week-long celebration of the benefits of solar, from lowering utility bills to creating high growth, family-supporting jobs. Solarize Philly represents more than $64 million of solar investment since 2016, and PEA has paired this program with workforce development programming targeting historically marginalized populations. The Solarize Philly program features four vetted installer partners - Exact Solar, Solr Standard, PosiGen Solar, and Superior Solar Design. 

Solar Week runs August 12-16, with events and webinars tailored to homeowners of all income and credit levels, school communities, commercial property owners, and those interested in the clean energy economy. For details, visit bit.ly/SolarWeekPHL.

About Philadelphia Energy Authority 

The Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) is an independent municipal authority focused on building a robust, equitable clean energy economy for Philadelphia. Launched in 2016, PEA leads the Philadelphia Energy Campaign, a $1 billion, 10-year investment in energy efficiency and clean energy projects to create 10,000 jobs. To date, PEA has supported over $900 million in projects and created more than 7,600 jobs. Learn more at www.philaenergy.org.

About Philadelphia Green Capital Corp (PGCC)

The Philadelphia Green Capital Corp. connects projects to capital (public, private, and philanthropic) to drive a robust, equitable clean energy market in the Greater Philadelphia region, support the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA), and respond to the local challenges of climate change. Learn more at phillygreencapital.org.