Harris County leaders broke ground on the first of seven community solar program sites during a ceremony Sept. 30.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The program is designed to expand clean energy access and affordability for low-income residents countywide, the leaders said during a press conference.<\/p>\n
The big picture<\/p>\n
The groundbreaking ceremony \u2014 held at the Reliant Center \u2014 marks the start of the county\u2019s Affordable Community Energy Program<\/a>, aimed at funding clean energy initiatives to relieve the cost burden on low-income households, according to a press release. ACE is the region\u2019s first county-led community solar program, per the release.\u00a0<\/p>\n The program is designed to combat \u201crising energy costs for low-income communities\u201d and address the need for \u201cenhanced grid resilience during extreme weather events and power outages,\u201d according to Harris County Commissioners Court meeting documents<\/a>. The court approved an $88.3 million investment<\/a> in the program during the March meeting.<\/p>\n ACE will generate up to 45 megawatts of solar energy and 20 megawatt-hours of battery storage on publicly owned land, per the release.<\/p>\n Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones said the program is a \u201cwin for affordability.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis is public land being put to work for the public,\u201d Briones said. \u201cThis is Harris County creating solar energy to make sure that those who are most vulnerable, at or below 80% of the area median income, will be able to get direct savings on their energy bills.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The county is expected to deliver about 20% in energy bill cuts for 9,500 to 10,000 income-qualifying households, according to the release. Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia said it could save households $930 annually.<\/p>\n \u201cEnergy is not a luxury,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cIt is something every family needs every day.\u201d<\/p>\n Some context\u00a0<\/p>\n