The Renewable Portfolio Standard Expansion Amendment Act of 2016 (D.C. Law 21-154) established the District of Columbia’s Solar for All program. Pursuant to the Act, Solar for All is funded by the Renewable Energy Development Fund. The REDF is a special purpose revenue fund to be used for promoting solar energy projects in the District; it is funded through compliance fees paid by electricity suppliers as required by the District’s Renewable Energy Portfolio (RPS) standard.
Funding from the REDF pursuant to the Act is to expand the District’s solar capacity; increase the amount of solar generated within the District; and provide the benefits of locally-generated solar energy to low-income households, small businesses, nonprofits, and seniors. Solar for All’s specific targets are to provide the benefits of solar energy to 100,000 low-income households (defined in the Act as households at or below 80% of Area Median Income) and to reduce their electricity bills by 50% (based on the residential rate class average electricity bill for 2016) by December 31, 2032.