Solar for All

CGC’s  Solar for All Program:

CGC received a total of $125M from EPA’s Solar for All program to establish green banks and create new low-income solar programs that can help residents of North and South Dakota save money on energy bills and create cleaner air and water across their states. 

• North Dakota Impact: CGC’s $62,450,000 grant is estimated to serve 4,832 low-income households, generate 28 MW of solar energy, avoid 40,289 short tons of carbon emissions, and achieve 29% household savings on electricity bills over 5 years.  
• South Dakota Impact: CGC’s $62,450,000 grant is estimated to serve 4,834 low-income households, generate 28 MW of solar energy, avoid 40,310 short tons of carbon emissions, and achieve 31% household savings on electricity bills over 5 years.  

The program is the first of its kind and we’re exploring the creation of a revolving loan fund as a sustainable financing mechanism to recycle capital and expand the program over time. 

• Household Savings – Participating households will receive at least 20% on their electricity bill and we will work with investor-owned utilities and rural electric cooperatives to achieve this goal.  
• Energy Resilience: Solar systems will support low-income households withstand, adapt, and recover from disruptions because an independent energy source ensures essential functions in the case of power outages.  
• Grid: By integrating a solar infrastructure, a community’s power supply can be maintained during outages or moments with heavy power usage (in the case of data centers), ensuring continuous operation and minimizing downtime. 
• Asset: CGC will work with key stakeholders to invest in high-quality, reliable solar technology that can endure environmental stressors and maintain functionality over time. 
• Economic: CGC will consider these different support mechanisms, such as insurance options, ownership models, and access to low-interest loans to facilitate recovery and resilience-building efforts. 
• Jobs: To build the workforce we’ll develop relationships with registered apprenticeship & pre-apprenticeship programs, community colleges, and labor management training programs.