About

With a program budget of up to $100 million annually and an overall target to install 300 megawatts of solar generating capacity by 2030, SOMAH is the nation’s largest investment in clean energy benefits for affordable housing tenants.

SOMAH is an exciting, evolving story, and we’d love your help in telling it.

Media contact

We’d be happy to answer any questions and arrange subject matter experts for interviews.

Contact: Maya Batres, media@calsomah.org, or call 510-913-9402.

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Program background

If you're new to SOMAH, start here with these key pages.

High-level program overview

Fact sheet

Program rollout and history

About

Program coverage

Eligible Properties Map

Statistics & reports

DGStats Website

News releases

July 25, 2022 - CalEPA Updates to Disadvantaged Communities Designation Expands Tribal Housing Eligibility for SOMAH

August 7, 2019 - SOMAH program’s year-one funding almost fully subscribed in first day (waitlist announced)

July 1, 2019 - California’s Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program to begin accepting applications

May 24, 2019 - Advisory Council selected for Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) program

August 29, 2018 - Nonprofit partnership chosen to ensure equitable access to solar energy for CA multifamily affordable housing

Story starters

Contact media@calsomah.org to connect with subject matter experts who can unpack the issues on these stories and any related topics you want to explore.

Solar equity policy in action through SOMAH

Accounting for 30% of California residences, multifamily housing has a significant role to play in helping meet the state’s renewable energy goals through greater use of rooftop solar. SOMAH is funding up to 300 megawatts of solar, with a minimum of 51% of generation benefiting tenants, and providing paid workforce training for residents. SOMAH’s first year sold out within hours of opening, with initial applications exceeding the minimum equity results with nearly 90% of solar energy allocations going to tenants.

Explore how this early success indicates the SOMAH program is properly designed to achieve its intended market transformation.

Integrated workforce development creates lasting impact

Workforce development is required for every SOMAH project, creating training opportunities and new jobs and ensuring lasting economic impacts in communities throughout California. Preference is given to trainees from a project’s local area and those with barriers to employment. Trainees are paid wages comparable to industry standards while gaining knowledge and resources to support their further professional development.

Find out how SOMAH connects contractors with qualified trainees through an online job training portal and resume bank.

Helping property owners overcome barriers to going solar

Adding solar to an affordable housing property can be complex and intimidating for property owners. SOMAH has built-in tools to help property owners negotiate the complexities of virtual net metering, estimating energy demand, meeting energy efficiency compliance and navigating utility interconnection — including no-cost, upfront technical assistance resources — while ensuring fair access to SOMAH incentives.

Learn how SOMAH’s technical assistance makes the process of going solar easier for property owners and their contractors.

Images

All photos are intended for editorial use only and are not permitted for any type of commercial or personal use. Any use must be credited as “Courtesy of SOMAH.”

Multifamily affordable housing

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Job training

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Solar installation

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