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CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: April 15, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Gabriel Elliott, Director of Community Development & Housing Department: Community Development & Housing
Subject: Declaration of Support and Collaboration with GRID Alternatives Inland Empire to Promote Community
Participation in the Disadvantaged Community for no Cost Single-family Affordable Solar Homes Program (All Wards) Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino take the following action:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-038 establishing a partnership with GRID Alternatives Inland Empire, a solar nonprofit organization that assists income qualified homeowners with no cost solar installations through the Energy for All program and provides no cost Workforce Training Programs that help build skills that open doors to high quality careers in the solar industry; and
2. Authorize the City Manager and his designee to take any further actions regarding the implementation of this resolution and/or program.
City Manager's Comments
This program provides income qualified homeowners an opportunity to have no cost solar installations. I support the program due to it providing this benefit to the community. It requires City Council support.
Executive Summary
GRID Alternatives is a 501(c)3 national non-profit organization whose mission is to build community powered solutions to advance environmental justice through renewable energy. It is also GRID Alternatives’ mission to grant equitable access to clean energy which can help address climate change and economic inequality by reducing the cost of energy, eliminating energy poverty for tribal nations and communities who lack access to clean energy itself, and creating workforce 3 2
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development opportunities for those who want to enter the clean energy labor force.
GRID Alternatives is the sole statewide administrator for the Disadvantaged Communities - Single-Families Solar Homes (DAC-SASH) a program which enables income-qualified homeowners in Disadvantaged Communities to receive no-cost rooftop solar installations. The program is fully funded by the California Public Utilities Commission operating in Southern California Edison service territories.
For residential low-income homeowners, GRID Alternatives services include design and installation, workforce development, and education.
A unique aspect of GRID Alternatives is that the installation process connects job trainees with an opportunity for “hands-on training” in the rapidly growing field of solar installation and promotes workforce development.
GRID Alternatives has served 214 families in the City of San Bernardino which equates to an investment of over $3,000,000 dollars and lifetime savings for the homeowners of $5,745,000.
Background
The DAC-SASH Program is uniquely designed to be a comprehensive low-income solar program. To be eligible for the DAC-SASH Program in the Inland Empire, a home/homeowner must meet all of the following criteria:
Home must be in target area as established by the Disadvantaged Community Map, as determined by the Cap and Trade Program.
Southern California Edison (SCE) client
Owner Occupied
Adequate roof structure and durability; and
Have a household income that matches CARE/FERA Southern California Edison Income limits.
Average funding of $20,000 to $25,000 per project
No lien recorded against the property
No home equity required
No restriction on resale of property
BENEFITS TO THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO
Participating in this partnership is valuable to the city because the City of San Bernardino is put on a path towards completing its sustainability goals. By supporting GRID Alternatives, the City of San Bernardino is working towards increasing the amount of renewable energy use by promoting income qualified solar housing programs that provide no cost solar for families living with limited and fixed incomes. Support of GRID Alternatives’ Solar Affordable Housing Program can result in the following tangible benefits to the City of San Bernardino:
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1.Income from Building Permits
Each GRID Alternatives’ solar electric installation will require a City of San Bernardino building/electrical permit, estimated at approximately $450.00 per project for the City.
This represents $613,800 in fees based on the number of solar panels installed in the city in 2024. This also generated workflow for the building department staff.
2. Leveraged Resources
By supporting the GRID Alternatives program, the City of San Bernardino leverages existing resources to assist its residents in meeting one of their basic needs: electricity for their home. The cost of an average installed solar electric system is $20,000. With a projected 25 installations in the City of San Bernardino, that represents approximately $500,000 in leveraged resources annually.
3. Leveraged Household Resources
Homeowners benefiting from the GRID Alternative program will be able to reduce their electricity bills by 50-85%, depending on the installed system size, immediately after obtaining permission to operate from Southern California Edison. The expense savings, which represents approximately $13,500 annually, would enable residents to spend their hard earned dollars locally for other basic necessities, such as food, clothing, and transportation.
4. Workforce Training Opportunities
City residents will be able to participate in Workforce Training Programs, supervised, hands-on training on solar electric installations at no cost to the participant. Residents must complete an interest form for IBT 200 Program and meet minimum program requirements.
5.Contribution to lower emissions and better air quality and health Increased use of solar electric systems will contribute to the County of San Bernardino’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions. With over 4,000 installations in the Inland Empire, GRID IE has helped reduce green house gas emissions by approximately 100,000 tons over the 30 year lifespan of the systems. Reduced carbon emissions will also enhance local air quality and health.
GRID ALTERNATIVES IE PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO The proposed partnership structure with City of San Bernardino is as follows:
The City of San Bernardino will:
Provide GRID Alternatives a Letter of Introduction from the City Council or an authorized City Agency, which GRID Alternatives will use for outreach purposes to identify eligible clients.
Permit GRID to use City name/logo on GRID program marketing materials (e.g., brochures, flyers, presentations).
Provide official City envelopes that GRID will use to distribute mailers to homeowners in the provided lists and/or provide postage/metered envelopes for mailers as described above.
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Host an Application Workshop in partnership with GRID at a City facility to promote GRID’s programs.
Invite GRID to participate in city community events and classes (e.g., Resource Fairs, Clean Air Day, Earth Day).
Promote City partnership with GRID:
In City website with GRID landing page
On public access TV and/or radio stations (e.g., Public Service Announcements)
In social media pages (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube) In City Activity Magazine
In City newsletters
In other scheduled mailers to homeowners/residents (e.g., Municipal Utility Companies billing)
In displays at City offices/libraries on an on-going basis Collaborate with GRID via joint media event to showcase partnership (e.g., Solar Showcase with City Mayor or representative)
Provide access to City facilities where GRID can host program events such as orientations and workshops to increase accessibility to in person meetings Introduce GRID to relevant prospective program partners (e.g., affordable housing developers, job training organizations, school districts) Provide an opportunity for GRID to update City on GRID programs, impact reports and continuous collaborative efforts
Support GRID in Community Development Block Grant Programs available in the city that would help increase impact
GRID ALTERNATIVES IE
Outreach to City of San Bernardino homeowners on the City-provided lists to qualify them for the program.
Support the homeowners through the application, qualification, installation, interconnection, and maintenance processes for their solar electric systems. GRID Alternatives provides a 10 year labor warranty and 10-25 equipment warranty.
GRID Alternatives works with homeowners to plan for equipment replacement needed over the 30-year lifespan of the system (e.g., inverter: replaced at year 10, estimated cost is $1,500).
Obtain permits for solar electric systems.
Install solar electric systems for program-qualified homeowners and homes. Engage City residents in hands-on training during our solar electric system installations.
List City of San Bernardino on GRID Alternatives’ website under the Local Partners listing (see: http://www.gridalternatives.org/my-community-inland-empire/local- partners).
Involve City of San Bernardino in media campaigns initiated for projects within the City of San Bernardino.
Provide City of San Bernardino updates on our local impact as requested (e.g., total 3 2
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permitting fee paid to the City; number of City homeowners served; number and total hours of City residents trained)
Discussion
Homeowners participating in the DAC-SASH program pay no out-of-pocket costs, will not have a lien recorded against their property, and are not required to have any home equity nor restrictions on resale of the properties.
The Energy for All Program and the DAC-SASH Program also provides a foundation for promoting and building a sustainable solar industry by incorporating a workforce development and job training component into the program.
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Fiscal Impact
The GRID Alternatives partnership has no direct financial impacts on the City’s General Fund. However, staff time will be required to assist in the promotional campaign.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, take the following action:
1. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-038 establishing a partnership with GRID Alternatives Inland Empire, a solar nonprofit organization that assists income qualified homeowners with no cost solar installations through the Energy for All program and provides no cost Workforce Training Programs that help build skills that open doors to high quality careers in the solar industry; and
2. Authorize the City Manager and his designee to take any further actions regarding the implementation of this resolution and program.
Attachments
Attachment 1 Resolution No. 2026-038
Attachment 2 Letter of support from the City of Ontario Attachment 3 Rancho Cucamonga- Resolution No. 17-054-17-0621 Attachment 4 Fontana GRID Alternatives City Resolution
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
None.
CC: Eric Levitt, City Manager