Imperial, California - In what is expected to be a utility first, the IID Board of Directors approved a power purchase agreement that will enable the district to offer solar energy to all of its low-income customers under a new community solar program.

Dubbed eGreen, the community solar program will serve Residential Energy Assistance Program participants as well as other IID energy customers who would like to receive the benefits of solar without the need for an individual rooftop system, which, for many customers in the Imperial and Coachella valleys, is out of their reach due to limited financial resources.

“Our goal is to provide all of our customers with an opportunity to support and benefit from clean, renewable, locally produced energy,” said Vicken Kasarjian IID’s energy manager. “There can be many barriers to developing a solar project on your own, eGreen will make renewable energy obtainable for everyone.”

The IID Board of Directors approved a 20-year agreement with Regenerate Power and its development subsidiary, Titan Solar I. The levelized cost of the generation is $29.72 and the guaranteed commercial date to be online is June 30, 2018.

IID currently has more than 14,000 customers who benefit from the district’s energy assistance program who potentially will qualify for the eGreen program. Additional program details and information will be available in the coming weeks.