The Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) prepared this case study to describe how Michigan’s energy office collaborated with local community action agencies and utilities to develop three separate community solar pilots aimed at reducing the energy burden of low-income Michiganders. Residents that participated in the pilots enrolled in community solar programs and received free
weatherization services. This case study illustrates how the program partners developed each pilot, what they learned, and what advice they would give to those developing future programs.
This case study was developed as part of the CESA’s Solar with Justice: Connecting States and Communities project. The Solar with Justice project aims to bring together state energy agencies (SEAs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) developing solar for environmental justice (EJ) communities to create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration. This case study is the second of six case studies that will be published by CESA under the Solar with Justice project, highlighting models of collaboration between CBOs and SEAs on solar for environmental justice communities. This case study is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
The report “Partnering to Reduce Energy Burden: A Michigan Community Solar and Weatherization Pilot” by the Clean Energy States Alliance can be accessed here
