HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-05-2025_Open Session_General Comment_Valdes, Tyler_RedactedFrom:Tyler Valdes
To:PublicComments
Subject:General Public Comment - Bring Solar To Renters in San Bernardino with SOMAH
Date:Wednesday, February 5, 2025 9:16:28 AM
Attachments:SOMAH Overview Flyer.pdf
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Dear honorable city council members,
My name is Tyler Valdes and I support cities across the state with helping their
residents access California's state-funded Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing
Program (SOMAH) to reach local housing, energy, and economic goals.
I work at a nonprofit that supports low-income communities and communities of color
to protect public health and the environment. We have members who reside in the
City of San Bernardino who have shared interest in getting local, clean energy into their
community and shifting away from polluting fossil fuels. Personally, I grew up in a low-
income household in the Inland Empire and my hope is for more families like mine to
benefit from a program like SOMAH.
Created by state law in 2015, the SOMAH Program is overseen by the California
Public Utilities Commission and provides rebates that significantly cover the costs of
installing solar on multifamily affordable housing. The program has 650+ solar
projects impacting 40,000+ tenant units across the state saving low-income
renters an average of $250 - $468 per year on energy bills.
SOMAH also boosts local workforce development and has supported 1,100+ paid
job training opportunities in the solar industry. Each solar project must include job
training which prioritizes local and targeted hires. We’ve seen community members
living in apartments get paid to install solar on their own rooftops!
Moreover, many of our community members we represent have shared they suffered
from public safety power shut offs by SCE. By adding battery storage to rooftop solar,
properties can maintain power during black outs and SOMAH is a good first step
toward a more resilient and decentralized grid.