The Obama administration announced Tuesday that it is introducing a new initiative to increase access to solar energy for all Americans, in particular low- and moderate- income communities.
According to a White House statement, the administration is setting a goal to install 300 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy by 2020 in federally subsidized housing and providing technical assistance to install solar energy, and to clarifying using federal funding.
In addition, more than 20 states in the U.S. are committing to put more than 260 solar energy projects in place,.
More than $520 million is committed to improve solar projects and energy efficiency for low- and moderate- income households to save on their energy bills.
Federal Housing Administration will facilitate homeowners to borrow up to $25,000 for solar and energy-efficient improvements.
The administration also informed that the solar power industry is adding jobs 10 times faster than the rest of the U.S. economy.
According to the statement, President Obama announced a new goal earlier this year to train 75,000 workers to enter the solar industry by 2020.
Last year, the U.S. brought online as much solar energy every three weeks as it did in all of 2008, and the solar industry added jobs 10 times faster than the rest of the economy.
Since the beginning of 2010, the average cost of a solar electric system has dropped by 50 percent, the statement said.
By Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
ovunc.kutlu@aa.com.tr