To encourage more installations of solar power in San Francisco, the City is offering incentives to San Francisco residents and businesses to install solar power on their properties. One solar incentive is available per electric meter for business, residential and non-profit non-residential incentive applications. For non-profit residential incentive applicants, one solar incentive is available per service site.
Budget capacity has been reached for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2012-2013 (April 1 – June 30, 2013), for the following categories:
- Low-income residential
- Residential (excluding low-income) & Business
- Non-Profit
The program will receive additional funding for the new fiscal year, 2013-2014, beginning July 1, 2013. Please stay tuned for further updates regarding program changes for the new fiscal year.
|
Useful Links and Documents
|
|
|
|
Questions
|
|
|
|
2012-13 GoSolarSF Incentives
Installers must participate in the Workforce Development Program
|
|
Residential Incentives
Select one base incentive and then add on supplemental incentives if applicable.
|
|
Base Incentives
Select one:
|
| Basic |
Available to any resident installing solar generation on his/her own property located within San Francisco.
|
$2000 |
Environmental
Justice
|
Available to residential installations located in San Francisco’s environmental justice zip codes, 94107 and 94124, PG&E CARE customers, and CalHome loan enrollees.
|
$3000 |
|
City Installer Supplemental Incentive
If applicable, this incentive is added to one of the base incentives above.
|
City Installer
|
Installers with principal place of business in San Francisco as explained in the Application Package.
|
$750 |
|
Low-Income Supplemental Incentives
If applicable, a low income incentive is added to one of the base incentives above. |
| Low-Income SASH
(Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes Program) |
Available to SASH applicants. SASH is the State’s CSI low-income program under which applicants may be eligible for a free system or a highly subsidized system. Households that qualify for SASH must apply for a Low-Income SASH incentive and may not apply for a GoSolarSF Low-Income Non-SASH incentive.
To qualify, the household must be below median income and the home must be located in the San Francisco Enterprise Zone or in a Neighborhood Revitalization Area. Please see Determination of SASH Eligibility. |
Up to
$7000
|
| Low-Income
Non-SASH |
Available to applicants who do not qualify for SASH and who are City residents certified by the Mayor’s Office of Housing as earning at or below the City’s median income, PG&E CARE ratepayers, or CalHome loan participants.
System size is at least 1 kW CEC-AC and under 1.4 kW CEC-AC:
System size is 1.4 kW CEC-AC or larger:
|
$5800
$7000 |
| Business Incentive |
| Available to for-profit and non-profit entities operating in San Francisco. Non-profits may apply for a higher incentive through the non-profit program below. |
$1500 per kW CEC-AC
of capacity up to a
cap of $10,000
per meter. |
| Non-Profit Non-Residential Incentive |
| Available for non-residential buildings owned by non-profits or government entities, and operated by non-profits. |
$1500 per kW CEC-AC
of capacity up to a
cap of $120,000
per meter. |
| Non-Profit Multi-Unit Residential Incentive |
| Available for multi-unit residential buildings owned and operated by non-profit organizations. For-profit building owners are eligible if 75% of the units are designated as affordable housing for a period of no less than 30 years. |
$3500 per kW CEC-AC
of capacity up to a
cap of $60,000
per service site |
GoSolarSF Application Process
The solar incentive program consists of a two-step process:
Step 1 – Reserving an Incentive
RESIDENTIAL applicants submit:
- GoSolarSF application, including required original signatures.
- Copy of completed California Solar Initiative application if a CSI project, or NSHP, MASH, or SASH application form.
- Copy of California Solar Initiative reservation letter if a CSI project, or NSHP, MASH, or SASH reservation letter.
- Copy of signed contract for purchase and installation of solar energy system.
If applying for the environmental justice incentive under CARE eligibility, include:
- Copy of two PG&E bills from within the past six months showing the CARE discount, with at least one month’s time between them, for example, bills from January and March.
If applying for the low-income non-SASH incentive, include one:
- Copy of an approval letter from MOH
- Copy of two PG&E bills from within the past six months showing the CARE discount, with at least one month’s time between them, for example, bills from January and March.
If applying for the residential incentive for a rented property, include a signed Tenant Consent Form signed within the past six (6) months.
If applying for the low-income SASH incentive, review the information in Determining SASH eligibility.
BUSINESS and NON-PROFIT applicants submit:
- GoSolarSF application, including required original signature.
- Copy of completed California Solar Initiative application.
- Copy of California Solar Initiative reservation letter.
- Copy of signed contract for purchase and installation of solar energy system.
If applying for the non-profit, multi-unit residential incentive, include:
- Copy of the recorded Regulatory Agreement or recorded Declaration of Restrictions.
Conclusion of Step 1: After reviewing and approving the application, a reservation letter will be sent from GoSolarSF confirming that funds are being reserved for six months and identifying additional documents that must be submitted after the project is completed to receive payment.
Step 2 – Receiving your Incentive
Applicant submits:
- GoSolarSF Program Agreement
- Copy of current property insurance policy declaration that includes the City and County of San Francisco as an additional insured. For systems 30 kW CEC-AC or less, the program agreements contain simplified insurance requirements. If the applicant is unable to include the City as an additional insured, a letter requesting waiver of that requirement must be submitted in addition to the policy declaration. See a sample letter here.
- W-9 tax form signed by designated payee.
- Copy of CSI Permission to Operate (PTO) letter or Approval of Incentive Payment letter.
- If applicable, a signed Payment Designation form. Submit only if changing the designated payee from the payee on the original application.
- Copy of cancelled check for 5% minimum payment toward cost of solar system. (Does not apply to SASH.)
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
In order to qualify for a GoSolarSF incentive, the applicant must contract with an installer who participates in the City’s Workforce Development program.