Phoenix experiences approximately 300 days of sunshine annually, making it one of the most solar-friendly climates in the country. However, many low and middle-income households, particularly in economically disadvantaged communities, face high utility costs due to outdated home infrastructure and limited access to renewable energy solutions. These communities are disproportionately impacted by extreme heat and rising energy bills, exacerbating economic hardships and health risks. To address these challenges, Phoenix developed its 2021 Climate Action Plan with goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The City is now partnering with the Arizona Office of Resiliency on a statewide program funded by a $156 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant to provide rooftop solar installations, whole-home energy upgrades, and energy bill credits to over 11,000 low-income households through 2030. The FUSE Executive Fellow will lead a comprehensive effort to maximize program impact through stakeholder engagement, developing a targeted marketing and outreach campaign with bilingual messaging, building a coalition of community-based organizations to promote the program, collaborating with local colleges and apprenticeship programs to train home energy upgrade specialists, and establishing formal partnerships across government, utilities, nonprofits, and other stakeholders. The project will result in a comprehensive strategic implementation plan, a bilingual multi-channel marketing campaign, a community partnership network, and a long-term program sustainability strategy that will ensure Phoenix’s residents of varying income levels benefit from the city’s abundant solar resources while advancing environmental justice and economic resilience.