MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – Millions of dollars is coming to Michigan, aiming to cut the cost of solar energy for low-income households.
As homeowners try to find ways to lower their utility costs, the EPA has awarded Michigan $156 million to lower the costs of community and rooftop solar projects for low-income households.
Steven Donley is the Owner of Marquette-based ECOSmart Homepros. He works to make homes in Upper Michigan more efficient and convenient. Donley says ECOSmart Homepros works with solar-related equipment to reduce energy costs. In fact, he says he has solar power in his home and has seen the savings.
“What people have to realize is yes, there is an investment to it, but quite often that investment is going to pay off if you’re going to be living in that house for a decade or more,” Donley said. “The house I live in, we installed solar two and a half years ago, it’s an all-electric house, we did solar instead, that was probably about a $20-$25,000 investment, during the summer our electric bills have gone from $300 a month to under $100 a month.”
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) says this Solar for All program is designed to make solar more accessible and save residents money.
“Here in Michigan, we got $156 million to help get solar to low-income households across Michigan and make sure that solar and the associated energy efficiency upgrades can save folks money, help them upgrade their homes and increase access to federal funding and energy savings,” EGLE Chief Climate Officer Corey Connolly said.
Connolly says there will be public input sessions in lower Michigan before the money is distributed. He expects the federal funding to be rolled out this fall.
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