1,400 low‑Income New Yorkers enroll in community solar program in just six months

More than 1,400 low‑income residents have signed up for the Erie County Low‑Income Program for Sustainable Energy (ECLIPSE) in its first six months, according to Ampion Renewable Energy. The initiative gives qualifying residents savings of up to 10% on electric bills through community solar credits with no upfront or installation costs.

Key details: How the program works

• ECLIPSE is run in partnership between Erie County and Ampion.
  
• Eligible participants include homeowners and renters enrolled in assistance programs such as SNAP or HEAP.
  
• Over the first six months, enrolled residents are expected to save a combined $63,000 annually via discounted solar credits.
  
• All enrollment is handled by Ampion, which provided a streamlined online system and direct assistance to help households apply.
  

Local and state support

Sarah Sanford, Senior Energy Development Specialist and ECLIPSE coordinator, emphasized the dual goal of providing energy cost relief and renewable access: “ECLIPSE seeks to lower the energy burden for households that need relief while expanding access to renewable power.”

Brian Buzby, Community Partnerships Executive at Ampion, added: “Our enrollment numbers reflect both the community’s need for energy cost relief and how effective local governments and developers can be when they work closely.”

Eligibility & enrollment

Residents eligible to join the program must:

• Be an Erie County resident
  
• Participate in assistance programs (e.g., HEAP, SNAP) or meet income criteria (altenergymag.com)
  
• Sign up through the ECLIPSE portal on the Erie County government website (Solar Power World)
  

This aligns with New York State’s broader Solar for All initiative, which allows income-eligible households to join community solar programs without cost.

Why this matters

• Energy equity: By removing financial barriers, the program makes clean energy more accessible to low-income households.
  
• No-cost access: Since there’s no upfront cost, participation doesn’t require homeowners to install or maintain solar equipment.
  
• Scaling model: ECLIPSE provides a replicable model for other counties or states looking to help underserved communities benefit from solar.
  

New York is actively expanding its community solar infrastructure under its NY-Sun program. (NYSERDA) The state’s Public Service Commission recently reallocated surplus NY-Sun funds to benefit low-income customers, reinforcing support for distributed solar.