GoSolarSF Program

GoSolarSF Incentive:

To encourage more low income qualifications installations of solar power in San Francisco, the City is offering San Francisco solar incentives to residents and businesses to install solar power on their properties. One San Francisco solar incentive is available per electric meter for business, residential and non-profit non-residential incentive applications. For non-profit residential incentive applicants, one solar incentive is available per service site.

Program changes for the 2016 year: Application form and submission

The new application form must be used. Any prior versions of the application and any incomplete applications will be returned and granted no priority when resubmitted. Application packages must be submitted by mail and will be processed in the order received. Hand deliveries will not be accepted.
Please review the new form carefully as there are several additions that require customer acknowledgement of understanding of the issues requiring initials and signature.

New applications are now available: GoSolarSF application package.

Incentive maximum

The total amount of incentives (state CSI and GoSolarSF) may cover no more than 95% of the total project cost. The property owner/host customer must contribute a minimum of 5% of the total project funding. This does not apply to SASH (Single-family Affordable Solar Homes) program participants.

Low-income SASH

SASH is the State of California’s CSI low-income qualifications program under which applicants may be eligible for a free system or a highly subsidized system. If eligible for the SASH program, the host customer/property owner must apply to SASH. Applications received for low-income non-SASH that qualify for SASH will be returned. To qualify, the household must be below median income and the home must be located in the SF Enterprise Zone or in a Neighborhood Revitalization Area and owner-occupied.

Low-income non-SASH

The $7000 low-income add-on will remain in place for systems that are 1.4 kW CEC-AC or larger. There will be a lower add-on amount of $5,800 for systems that are at least 1 kW CEC-AC but less than 1.4 kW CEC-AC.

For applicants demonstrating low-income eligibility through the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH), approval from MOH must be obtained before applying for a GoSolarSF San Francisco solar incentive. SASH applicants do not need to apply to MOH.

Reservation period

The reservation period is now six months. In the case of new construction, an extension up to three months could be granted if proof of project delay is provided.

2016 GoSolarSF Incentives

Installers must participate in the Workforce Development Program

Residential Incentives

Select one base incentive and then add on supplemental incentives if applicable.

Base Incentives

Select one:

Basic Available to any resident installing solar generation on his/her own property located within San Francisco. $2000
Environmental
Justice Available to residential installations located in San Francisco’s environmental justice zip codes, 94107 and 94124, PG&E CARE customers, and CalHome loan enrollees. $3000 City Installer Supplemental Incentive

If applicable, this incentive is added to one of the base incentives above.

City Installer Installers with principal place of business in San Francisco as explained in the Application Package. $750
Low-Income Supplemental Incentives

If applicable, a low income incentive is added to one of the base incentives above.

Low-Income SASH
(Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes Program) Available to SASH applicants. SASH is the State’s CSI low-income program under which applicants may be eligible for a free system or a highly subsidized system. Households that qualify for SASH must apply for a Low-Income SASH incentive and may not apply for a GoSolarSF Low-Income Non-SASH incentive.To qualify, the household must be below median income and the home must be located in the San Francisco Enterprise Zone or in a Neighborhood Revitalization Area. Please see Determination of SASH Eligibility. Up to $7000 Low-Income Non-SASH
Available to applicants who do not qualify for SASH and who are City residents certified by the Mayor’s Office of Housing as earning at or below the City’s median income, PG&E CARE ratepayers, or CalHome loan participants.

System size is at least 1 kW CEC-AC and under 1.4 kW CEC-AC:

System size is 1.4 kW CEC-AC or larger:

$5800 – $7000
Business Incentive
Available to for-profit and non-profit entities operating in San Francisco. Non-profits may apply for a higher incentive through the non-profit program below. $1500 per kW CEC-AC of capacity up to a cap of $10,000 per meter. Non-Profit Non-Residential Incentive Available for non-residential buildings owned by non-profits or government entities, and operated by non-profits. $1500 per kW CEC-AC of capacity up to a cap of $120,000 per meter. Non-Profit Multi-Unit Residential Incentive
Available for multi-unit residential buildings owned and operated by non-profit organizations. For-profit building owners are eligible if 75% of the units are designated as affordable housing for a period of no less than 30 years. $3500 per kW CEC-AC
of capacity up to a cap of $60,000 per service site.

GoSolarSF Application Process

The San Francisco solar incentive program consists of a two-step process:

Step 1 – Reserving an Incentive

RESIDENTIAL applicants must submit:

GoSolarSF application, including required original signatures.
Copy of completed California Solar Initiative application if a CSI project, or NSHP, MASH, or SASH application form.
Copy of California Solar Initiative reservation letter if a CSI project, or NSHP, MASH, or SASH reservation letter.
Copy of signed contract for purchase and installation of solar energy system.

If applying for the environmental justice incentive under CARE eligibility, include:

Copy of two PG&E bills from within the past six months showing the CARE discount, with at least one month’s time between them; for example, bills from January and March.
If applying for the low-income non-SASH incentive, include one:

Copy of an approval letter from MOH
Copy of two PG&E bills from within the past six months showing the CARE discount, with at least one month’s time between them; for example, bills from January and March.

If applying for the residential incentive for a rented property, include a signed Tenant Consent Form.

If applying for the low-income SASH incentive, review the information in Determining SASH eligibility.

BUSINESS and NON-PROFIT applicants must submit:

GoSolarSF application, including required original signature.
Copy of completed California Solar Initiative application.
Copy of California Solar Initiative reservation letter.
Copy of signed contract for purchase and installation of solar energy system.

If applying for the non-profit, multi-unit residential incentive, include:

Copy of the recorded Regulatory Agreement or recorded Declaration of Restrictions.

Conclusion of Step 1: After reviewing and approving the application, a reservation letter will be sent from GoSolarSF confirming that funds are being reserved for six months and identifying additional documents that must be submitted after the project is completed to receive payment.

Step 2 – Receiving your Incentive

Applicant submits:

GoSolarSF Program Agreement
Program Agreement for systems less than 30 kW CEC-AC
Program Agreement for systems greater than 30 kW CEC-AC
Program Agreement for residential systems (less than 30 kW CEC-AC) on rented properties
Copy of current property insurance policy declaration that includes the City and County of San Francisco as an additional insured. For systems 30 kW CEC-AC or less, the program agreements contain simplified insurance requirements. If the applicant is unable to include the City as an additional insured, a letter requesting waiver of that requirement must be submitted in addition to the policy declaration. See a sample letter here.
W-9 tax form signed by designated payee.
Copy of CSI Permission to Operate (PTO) letter or Approval of Incentive Payment letter.
If applicable, a signed Payment Designation form. Submit only if changing the designated payee from the payee on the original application.
Copy of cancelled check for 5% minimum payment toward cost of solar system. (Does not apply to SASH.)

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

In order to qualify for a GoSolarSF San Francisco solar incentive, the applicant must contract with an installer like Skytech Solar who participates in the City’s Workforce Development program.