Yesterday (July 23) Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced that is investing $1 million in solar power to be installed at Habitat for Humanity facilities across its service area. Under the agreement the utility will install solar power at 79 homes with 18 different Habitat for Humanity local affiliates.
“PG&E is proud to support Habitat for Humanity’s mission of making homeownership a reality for deserving families. Our sustained collaboration on the Solar Habitat Program allows these homes to be both financially and environmentally sustainable. Together, we’re building a cleaner, brighter future for the people of California,” said PG&E CEO Tony Earley. It’s not the first time the utility has worked with Habitat for Humanity on solar projects. The utility said it has donated more than $9.6 million to install solar at Habitat for Humanity locations. In all it’s now funded solar installations on more than 600 new-construction Habitat for Humanity homes throughout its service area.
Homes that benefit from the program get a reduced energy cost, according to PG&E. The utility said the arrays lowers the electricity bill by $500 a year with each solar panel in the array generating roughly 300 kilowatt-hours electricity.
Homes that benefit from the program get a reduced energy cost, according to PG&E. The utility said the arrays lowers the electricity bill by $500 a year with each solar panel in the array generating roughly 300 kilowatt-hours electricity.
"Thanks to our partnership with PG&E and the Solar Habitat program, Habitat homeowners spend less on electricity and that helps us keep the overall cost of homeownership low. This is a critical piece of the overall affordability of Habitat homes,” said Phillip Kilbridge, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Greater San Francisco.
Habitat for Humanity of San Joaquin County called the partnership a first-of-its-kind. Adding that it’s been working with PG&E for five years on installing solar on Habitat for Humanity homes.
Some of the projects completed through the program were significant. For instance, PG&E sponsored solar power for a 36-unit Habitat for Humanity project that cost $13 million. The company sponsored the PG&E’s 132 solar panels at that project. They’re anticipated to save the residents $232,000 over their operational lifetime.
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