The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Community Development Action Coalition (HBCU CDAC), an Advisory Board member of the Green Bank for Rural America, is leading a Clean Energy Initiative to increase solar awareness, accessibility and workforce training in high-opportunity communities surrounding HBCUs. HBCU CDAC has more than one hundred member institutions in twenty states, primarily in underserved rural communities.
To date, HBCU CDAC has helped facilitate the installation of 14 solar systems in owner-occupied homes across North Carolina, at no cost to the homeowners. At an average cost of $15,000 per home for solar panels, homeowners expect to save $700 per year on their energy bills.
Each installation included optimizers, inverters, and consumption and production monitoring applications, allowing homeowners to track solar usage and savings in real-time. By aggregating the monitoring data, HBCU CDAC will be able to demonstrate measurable impact within the community and advocate for funding to grow the program across the country. The completed systems so far supply an average of 76% of the homeowner’s electricity usage.
In addition, HBCU CDAC is partnering with their member institution, North Carolina A&T University, on research and workforce training to build a new energy economy that benefits local businesses and workers.
