LINC Housing, a nonprofit developer of affordable housing in California, recently announced that its SEED Partners subsidiary has installed new solar photovoltaic systems at five LINC properties by aggregating them as one project to leverage tax credits and available incentive programs as part of a new financing structure.
Co-developed with the National Housing Trust, the solar development impacts 545 low-income family and senior households, will reduce resident energy bills, and provided solar installation job training for the community.
“Any time we can reduce the overall energy cost burden for our residents, it’s a win,” says Rebecca Clark, president and CEO of LINC Housing. “With this project, we’re both reducing energy costs and providing a sustainable source of power.”
Enterprise Community Partners recognized the value of this test model and awarded LINC and SEED a $50,000 grant to support the effort. In addition, Enterprise Community Loan Fund and the National Housing Trust provided a $588,000 participation loan.
“High energy costs make it difficult to keep apartments affordable. That’s why improving energy performance, resilience and sustainability is key to preserving affordable homes over the long term,” says Esther Toporovsky, senior program director of Enterprise Community Partners. “LINC Housing’s model uses a new structure where the property owner receives the operating income rather than a third party, allowing the owner to diversify revenue streams and finance more affordable housing. Enterprise is proud to be a part of it.”
According to LINC, the project also built and improved relationships with utility companies and solar installers. Solar installation is the first step toward future solar-plus-storage projects and net zero buildings, both key topics for working with utilities and in demonstration projects, LINK adds.
SEED Partners is expected to provide a detailed report of the project’s accomplishments and challenges, and LINC and SEED hope to replicate the process using a similar ownership structure, available incentives, and other resources for additional LINC properties. LINK says the success of this model – aggregating multiple properties for solar – provides new options to multifamily owners who have insufficient upfront installation funds.
In addition to the National Housing Trust and Enterprise Community Partners, the solar project was also supported by the State of California through the Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) program and the Low Income Weatherization Program (LIWP). Monarch Private Capital LLC served as the main investor, providing an innovative source of financing that helps LINC leverage other funding sources necessary for the overall project. Solar installation partners included Primus, Cal Solar, and nonprofit GRID Alternatives, the latter of which also provided solar installation job training to residents interested in building a career in the solar industry.
The five properties to benefit from the work are The Village at Beechwood in Lancaster, City Gardens Apartments in Santa Ana, SEASONS at Ontario in Ontario, Pleasant View Apartments in Fresno, and Mosaic Gardens at Monterey Park in Monterey Park.
