Washington community solar program for low income households has committed 25 million dollars, filling both of its next 2 funding cycles

How the community solar program for low income Washington households works

A community solar program for low income Washington households, called the Community Solar Expansion Program, pays incentives to whoever builds the project, not to the household itself. Created by House Bill 2SHB 1814 and in effect since March 30, 2022, the program is run by Washington State University Energy Program, a unit of the university, rather than by any single electric utility. The sponsor that applies is a utility, a nonprofit, a tribal housing authority or another local housing authority, not an individual homeowner. A qualifying project has more than 12 kilowatts and no more than 199 kilowatts of direct current capacity, and must serve at least 2 low income subscribers or 1 low income service provider. Low income under the law means a household earning no more than 80% of the area median income or no more than 200% of the federal poverty level. The program targets an incentive of 2.25 dollars per watt for solar equipment and 600 dollars per kilowatt hour for battery storage.

The program has already committed its next 2 funding cycles

As of March 2026, Washington State University says the Community Solar Expansion Program has reached 25 million dollars in obligated funding allocations covering both the funding cycle that runs through June 2027 and the following cycle, which does not begin until July 2027 and runs through June 2029. Both of the program next 2 funding cycles are already committed, according to the university own program page. A sponsor that finishes certifying a project today is entering a program with no committed money left in either cycle to draw an incentive payment from.

A 100 million dollar lifetime cap sets the size of the whole program

2SHB 1814 caps the program total statewide incentive payments at 100 million dollars. The law allowed 300,000 dollars in the program first year, fiscal year 2023, then 25 million dollars for each 2 year budget cycle beginning July 1, 2023. Washington State University says the program has already paid out more than 53 million dollars in incentives, leaving a shrinking share of the 100 million dollar cap unclaimed years before the law final certification deadline of June 30, 2035.

A budget shortfall added a new fee to apply

Washington State University own frequently asked questions page states that the program added a 5,000 dollar application fee, citing a budget shortfall that had reduced the program capacity to review applications, a detail found only on the university own site, not in coverage of the original law. The incentive can also cover up to 20,000 dollars in administrative start up costs per project. Precertification lasts 24 months and requires a progress report after 1 year.

What the incentive is actually building

Three projects the university names as examples of what the incentive builds. Laurel Manor, run by the Vancouver Housing Authority, is a 132 kilowatt system serving an 82 unit senior housing building, freeing money for resident health and wellbeing services. Hifumi En Apartments in Spokane carries an 88.8 kilowatt rooftop system serving Spokane Housing Authority tenants, funding tenant services and free electric vehicle charging. Community Solar East, at the Port of Camas Washougal in Clark County, sets aside 199 kilowatts of a larger 799 kilowatt project to fund Operation Warm Heart, a donation funded energy assistance program.

Washington State University counts 190 total projects the program is supporting, 50 already certified and 140 more precertified, adding up to more than 19 megawatts of direct current solar capacity across the state.