/ Modified apr 6, 2015 3:40 p.m.

Utilities Seek Donations for Solar on Low-Income Housing

Arizona's three largest power providers will install panels on Habitat for Humanity homes.

Rooftop Solar A 25-panel rooftop solar power array.
Yoohyun Jung

Listen:

Tucson Electric Power, Unisource Energy and Arizona Public Service are asking for donations to help cover the cost of installing solar panels on homes built by Habitat for Humanity.

The Arizona Corporation Commission approved the Voluntary Solar Program late last year. After a slow start, utilities are now trying to get word out to the public.

Tax-deductible donations of any amount can be made on the power companies’ websites or through the Arizona Community Foundation, the non-profit which is administrating the program.

While the utilities are accepting donations from anyone – not just customers – the panels will be installed on homes within their respective service territories. Habitat for Humanity will choose which houses get solar panels without input from the utilities.

“This voluntary contribution program provides an avenue for individuals to directly support rooftop solar through voluntary, tax-deductible contributions, thus, bringing the technology to individuals who may have not had access to it,” Commissioner Bob Burns said in a press release.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona