Landing Page AboutNRECA’s project, Achieving Cooperative Community Equitable Solar Sources (ACCESS), will research how to make solar energy affordable for communities with fewer financial resources and extend the benefits of solar development to low-and moderate-income (LMI) consumers. The project will explore and amplify the use of innovative, cost-effective energy access programs to serve co-ops’ consumer members in need, particularly the LMI communities. [section separator="true"][section-item 12][row color-transparency="0"][column 12][well color="secondary"]Key Tools and Resources ACCESS Gap Analysis ACCESS Report Series: Evaluation of Existing Financing Mechanisms & Program Designs for Low to Moderate Income Solar PV Programs PNNL Report on the Valuation of DER Resources to Demonstrate the Range of Potential Benefits A Generalized Business Case Pricing Tool for LMI Community Solar Programs Advisory: NRECA and PNNL Provide Guidance on Leveraging Battery Performance Testing for Improved Financial Calculations Advisory: NRECA and PNNL Research Additional Benefits from Solar PV and Energy Storage Advisory: ACCESS Project Explores Use of Federal Assistance Funds to Provide Affordable Solar Energy for Low-Income Households Advisory: ACCESS Project Opportunity for cooperatives to participate in DOE research project “ACCESS” to expand solar energy affordability CASE STUDIES Anza Electric CooperativeShifting peak demand with solar energy to assist Native American economic development Oklahoma Electric CooperativeSharing Sunbeams: Supporting Local Education and Local Energy Orcas Power & Light Cooperative Using Solar Energy and Hybrid Battery Technology to Address Grid Resiliency and Energy Affordability on a Remote Island Archipelago Roanoke Electric Cooperative Leveraging land ownership retention for economic empowerment through solar energy and community development [/well] [/column] [/row] [/section-item] [/section]
Top Content[section separator="true"][section-item 12][row][column 8] Exploring a combination of financial models and program designs ACCESS will research three (3) financing mechanisms and six (6) program designs, including engagement strategies, to identify effective solutions for small utilities in achieving solar program participation by LMI consumers. These solutions may include various sized solar applications, integration with technologies such as battery storage and energy efficiency, and philanthropic partnerships. [/column] [column 4][panel panel-style="default" color="highlight" color-transparency="0.8"]ACCESS is the flagship project from NRECA’s Advancing Energy Access for All initiative, which spotlights co-ops’ involvement in facilitating healthy communities, explores the innovative ways they do it, and uncovers new directions community assistance programs are taking. [/panel] [/column] [/row] [/section-item] [/section] [section][section-item][row][column 12] Field Testing This research will incorporate analysis and evaluation from field tests (individual solar projects) sited at diverse co-ops that will provide the basis for replication among the broader co-op community. [/column] [/row] [/section-item] [/section] [section][section-item][row][column 12] Project Goals and Deliverables Through ACCESS, NRECA will work with a broad group of industry stakeholders to identify and share information about effective options for providing solar access to consumers, particularly those within LMI communities. Tools and resources will be developed and made available to electric co-ops as well as to the broader utility industry to further the benefits to LMI consumers. [/column] [/row] [/section-item] [/section]
Landing Page MiddleNRECA is leading a dedicated team of experts focused on this effort, including:Two financial institutions serving rural America: CFC: National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation CoBankA non-profit focused on making clean, affordable solar power accessible to low-income communities: GRID AlternativesOne of the United States Department of Energy national laboratories, managed by the Department of Energy's Office of Science: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)ParticipantsTo promote wide industry involvement, this project involves three valuable groups of participants: Leader Co-ops, Affiliate Co-ops, and Stakeholders:[accordions no-divider="true"][accordion title="Leader%20Co-ops"]To provide robust research opportunity with real-world solar projects, select co-ops will participate as “Leader Co-ops” of this initiative. These co-ops have solar deployment plans or recent project implementation that focus benefits for communities of LMI members, using different forms of the financing mechanisms and solar program designs. Through these co-ops’ experiences and insights, ACCESS will be better able to determine effective approaches to advancing solar access for all. Current Leader Participants include: Anza Electric Cooperative (CA)BARC Electric (VA)Kit Carson (NM)Oklahoma Electric Cooperative (OK)Orcas Power & Light (WA)Ouachita Electric Cooperative (AR)Roanoke Electric Cooperative (NC)[/accordion] [accordion title="Affiliate%20Co-ops"]Recognizing that many NRECA co-op members are interested in determining ways to make solar more accessible within their communities, we are inviting additional co-ops to participate as Affiliate Co-ops. These participants will be informed of the progress of ACCESS and provide their feedback and insights to add further value to the research. If interested in joining as an Affiliate co-op, please contact our team at: SolarAccessProject@nreca.coop. [/accordion] [accordion title="Stakeholders"]Those with involvement and interest in solar advancement within the electric industry is far-reaching, from consumers to vendors to public interest organizations and many others. Including the diverse perspectives of this network is essential to ensuring we arrive at effective and beneficial tools and resources for equitable solar access for harder to reach communities. The list is available here. [/accordion] [/accordions] [panel panel-style="default" color="highlight" color-transparency="0.8"]Cooperatives who are interested in staying informed about our progress with the ACCESS Project and provide their insights and feedback are invited to join as Affiliate Co-ops. Please contact our team at: SolarAccessProject@nreca.coop. [/panel]
Contacts DescriptionSolarAccessProject@nreca.coopLisa Slaughter, ACCESS Project Manager, Research Engineer - Software: Lisa.Slaughter@nreca.coopTolu Omotoso, Energy Solutions Director, Cooperative Business Solutions: Tolu.Omotoso@nreca.coop
