The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Aug. 4 published updated guidance for Public Housing Authorities and owners of properties participating in HUD multifamily assisted housing programs regarding the treatment of financial benefits received from participation in community solar energy programs or the presence of on-site solar facilities.
HUD said it updated this guidance to make it easier for program participants to understand and implement policies governing participation in solar programs so that residents can benefit from the expansion of these clean energy programs “as a result of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda through the historic Inflation Reduction Act.”
The new guidance consolidates multiple previously issued policy documents, along with current guidance for HUD programs supporting solar, including:
- New Community Solar Credits in Master Meter Buildings Guidance for Public Housing Authorities, which augments existing PIH guidance in PIH Notice-2022-34-Rate Reduction Incentive Guidance, Treatment of Community Solar Credits on Tenant Utility Bills;
- PIH Notice 2022-32-Small Rural Frozen Rolling Base Guidance;
- PIH Notice 2011-3-Energy Performance Contract Guidance; and
- New Housing Notice 2023-09 for Multifamily Assisted Housing property owners.
Specifically, the updated guidance covers programs through which residents benefit from electricity generated by solar panels at either an off-site array or on-site solar facility.
The new documents contain policies administered by HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and Office of Multifamily Housing Programs that remain largely unchanged from previously issued policy, with updates for clarity and consistency.
The updated guidance also includes some expansions, such as guidance for Public Housing Authorities in using community solar credits for buildings with master metered utility accounts and explicitly stating for properties participating in HUD Multifamily Assisted Housing programs that the guidance applies to properties with rooftop/on-site solar facilities.
HUD also recently updated Public Housing guidance on power purchase agreements for use with its Rate Reduction Incentive program and published Public Housing guidance for solar credits.
On May 11, 2023, HUD announced the availability of new funding through the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the energy and water efficiency and climate resilience of HUD-assisted multifamily properties serving low-income residents.
