PG&E Opens $10.3 M in Funding for Multifamily Rooftop Solar Program

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) today announced $10.3 million available in funding for the Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Program, which offers rebates for affordable solar energy to families in disadvantaged communities across Northern and Central California. Supported by the MASH program, solar energy can lower monthly energy costs for tenants, improve the quality of low-income multifamily housing and drive more clean energy in the state.

Through the MASH program, PG&E offsets the costs of installing new solar energy systems on multifamily affordable housing buildings, providing clean energy for tenants as well as in common areas like hallways, stairwells and laundry rooms. On average, the program financially supports about 40 percent of the solar system equipment and installation for an apartment building.

“The real benefit of solar in California is when everyone has access to it regardless of location or income – which is exactly what the MASH program aims to achieve. Supporting access to solar energy for all is a win for our customers, and a win for the state’s clean energy goals,” said Aaron Johnson, vice president of PG&E’s Customer Energy Solutions.

In addition to expanding solar energy in disadvantaged communities, the MASH program also increases job training in the clean energy industry by requiring at least one trainee work on each project. Since it started in 2008, the program has:

• Directly benefitted more than 3,600 families across Northern and Central California
• Provided $33 million in funding for rooftop solar on multifamily buildings like apartments and condos
• Supplied about 15 megawatts of solar energy, equivalent to powering more than 6,000 homes