BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington is accepting applications for its Solar Grants for Income-Qualified Homeowners Program, helping eligible residents overcome the upfront cost of installing solar and reducing the long-term burden of household energy expenses. The program covers the full cost of a 5-kilowatt solar installation for eligible homeowners.
For income-qualified households, energy costs can consume a large share of available household resources. High energy bills can make it more difficult for families to afford other necessities and limit their ability to make investments that improve the efficiency and affordability of their homes. The City’s solar grant program addresses one of the biggest barriers to residential solar—the upfront cost—by providing eligible homeowners with a grant covering the full cost of a 5-kilowatt solar installation.
“Solar energy shouldn’t be a benefit available only to households that can afford the upfront investment,” said Shawn Miya, Assistant Director of Sustainability for the City of Bloomington. “This program helps remove that barrier and gives income-qualified homeowners an opportunity to benefit from renewable energy. When we invest in clean energy and make it more accessible, we’re also investing in housing affordability, stronger households, and a more sustainable Bloomington.”
The Solar Grants for Income-Qualified Homeowners Program provides 100 percent grant funding for a 5-kilowatt solar system for homeowners whose total household income is less than 80% Area Median Income as determined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grant covers the solar panels, inverters, equipment, and labor associated with the 5-kilowatt installation, eliminating the upfront cost of the system for eligible recipients.
By helping homeowners generate electricity from the sun, the program can provide long-term energy-cost benefits while allowing residents to participate directly in Bloomington’s transition to renewable energy. The program is designed to advance several City goals, including increasing renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel consumption, and increasing housing affordability.
The program also helps address an important equity consideration in the transition to clean energy: residents who face the greatest financial barriers to adopting new technologies should not be left behind as Bloomington moves toward a more sustainable energy future.
The solar systems installed through the program are designed to provide benefits for many years. Solar modules offered through the program by the City’s selected vendor, MPI Solar, include a minimum 25-year warranty for power production and a five-year workmanship warranty.
The program is available to income-qualified homeowners who own and occupy a qualifying single-family home within Bloomington city limits. Homes must have a structurally sound roof that does not require repair or replacement before installation.
Applications are accepted on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis until program funding has been allocated. allocated. Applicants begin with an eligibility check. Eligible homeowners are then invited to complete the second portion of the application, which includes information about household energy use and installation logistics.
“Programs like this allow us to tackle both by helping residents reduce their energy burden while increasing access to renewable energy,” Miya said.
The Solar Grants for Income-Qualified Homeowners Program is part of the City’s broader commitment to building a Bloomington that is more affordable, sustainable, and resilient for all residents.
“MPI Solar is honored and excited to partner with the City of Bloomington to implement this important grant program for our community,” said David Mann, Owner of MPI Solar.
For questions about the program or eligibility, visit the Solar Grants for Income-Qualified Homeowners website at bloomington.in.gov/sustainability/solar-grants-income-qualified or contact sustain@bloomington.in.gov.
