No-Cost Solar Plan will allow hundreds of low-income Georgia families to benefit from solar savings through a fully prepaid lease
GEORGIA (August 4, 2025) – Georgia BRIGHT launched the first of several initiatives using obligated funding from the federal Solar for All program at an event in Atlanta today. Qualifying Georgia homeowners with an income at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for their county and household size can enter a drawing to receive one of approximately 400 fully prepaid solar leases with no upfront, monthly, or ongoing maintenance costs as a part of the No Cost Solar Plan. A second drawing for 400 more systems will be held in the spring of 2026.
“The No-Cost Solar Plan delivers on Solar for All’s goal of making solar energy available to all households, especially those in underserved communities,” said Georgia BRIGHT Director Alicia Brown. “As the cost of living increases across our most vulnerable communities, this program will deliver significant savings to the households that need it most.”
Georgia BRIGHT pilot client Christine Difeliciantonio also spoke at the event. The solar panels she had installed on her 1958 home in Columbus through Georgia BRIGHT’s pilot program (which is now closed) became operational in May. “I believe installing solar panels aligns with my faith values. My faith tells me I am called to live as a neighbor in community, sharing Earth’s abundance and considering all life in more sustainable choices. When we steward that abundance, we better provide for our children, grandchildren, and future generations,” she said. The sustainability advocate has already seen her power bill go from $224 in June 2024 to $50 in June 2025. The system also gives her peace of mind in storms. Her sister, who lives in Asheville, North Carolina was hard hit by Hurricane Helene last year.
Trees Atlanta, which hosted the event, is also a Georgia BRIGHT client from the pilot version of the program. The organization had 140 solar panels installed on the roof of their headquarters in November of 2024. “It was more than an economic decision for us. As one of Atlanta’s leading nonprofit environmental organizations, Trees Atlanta is committed to reducing our own environmental burden and demonstrating the benefits of sustainable solutions,” said Mike Vinciquerra, Business Development Director of Trees Atlanta. “The Georgia BRIGHT program enabled us to install solar panels without diverting resources from community forestry projects.” The solar panels have been operational since March 2025 and are expected to save the nonprofit $3,000 a year in utility costs. Over 25 years the solar panels will offset the equivalent carbon of roughly 28,000 trees being planted.
On Earth Day 2024, the Georgia BRIGHT Communities Coalition, including lead applicant Capital Good Fund, along with coalition member cities, Atlanta, Savannah, and Decatur, and dozens of other Georgia stakeholders, was allocated $156 million from Solar for All to bring solar to thousands of households statewide between summer 2025 and mid-2029.
Other Georgia BRIGHT Solar for All programs are also in the works. Later this summer, Georgia BRIGHT will launch a second residential initiative, the Residential Solar Savings Plan. Qualifying households will receive custom solar installations at no upfront cost, with low monthly payments that guarantee day-one savings of at least 20%, net of monthly payments. Like the No-Cost Solar Plan, the residential lease includes all maintenance as well as the option for battery storage to ensure resilience against severe weather. Next, Community Benefit Solar will provide a pathway for commercial properties like businesses, houses of worship, and apartment buildings to go solar, if they agree to share the financial benefits (i.e. grocery gift cards, utility assistance, discounted daycare, rental assistance, and more) generated with eligible community members for five years. Lastly, Utility-Led Community Solar will provide grants to local utilities to offer shared solar programs to low-income households.
In addition to funding solar projects, the Solar for All funding will support programming like community outreach and education, workforce development, and “enabling upgrades,” or repairs needed before a home or commercial property can install solar.
For more information on eligibility and the process for the No-Cost Solar Plan, please visit the Georgia BRIGHT website. Those eligible can enter the drawing here.
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About Capital Good Fund
Capital Good Fund is a Rhode Island-based nonprofit organization that uses financial services to tackle poverty and environmental injustice in America. Through Georgia BRIGHT, Capital Good Fund is helping low-to-moderate income families gain access to solar energy, which decreases their energy bills, improves their energy outlook and helps the environment, while supporting green jobs. Capital Good Fund is also helping finance green home improvements for clients in other states through its DoubleGreen & HomeGreen loan programs. It has financed more than 16,000 loans totaling over $52M to clients in 11 states since it was founded in 2009. More at www.GoodFund.us.
