Solar+Storage for Affordable Housing in Nashville: An Interview with Be a Helping Hand’s Sara Jean Schweitzer 

In the year since BHH’s TAF award, BHH has made demonstratable progress towards reaching their goal, including securing grants to cover part of the installation cost. BHH has also been busy building local partnerships as it lays the foundation for a new solar+storage workforce development program, which will be piloted with the installation of solar+storage at four BHH homes in 2025. CEG awarded BHH a Resilient Power Leadership Initiative capacity-building grant in 2023 to support its expanding focus on resilient power workforce development. 

The TAF team met with Sara Jean Schweitzer, Green Programs Director at BHH to discuss the organization’s progress, lessons learned, and goals for the future. The following is the edited conversation. 

CEG: Could you “introduce me” to Be a Helping Hand’s affordable housing program: Who does it serve? How many people have accessed affordable housing through BHH?  

Sara Jean Schweitzer: Be a Helping Hand is a BIPOC-led nonprofit that was established in 2001 as a workforce development organization focused on educating Nashville’s underrepresented communities in the building trades. Over the years, we have trained over 500 students in electrical work, plumbing, HVAC systems, and carpentry. Since transitioning into a nonprofit Community Housing Development Organization in 2006, we have provided housing for over 447 low-income individuals and families (at or below 80% of AMI) in North Nashville and the surrounding metropolitan areas, who have been disproportionately affected by discriminatory local planning policies and gentrification spanning the past fifty years. Our mission is to empower families and build strong communities by providing safe, affordable housing, person-centered support, and green initiatives.  

Through our affordable housing program and green initiatives, we aim to establish a stable foundation for families to achieve health, energy equity, opportunity, and pride. By enabling families to affordably remain in their communities, we ensure they live in quality homes that promote energy equity and support the creation of generational wealth, thereby ensuring equitable opportunity for all our neighbors. 

How can a resident learn more about BHH’s affordable housing programs and eligibility?  

SJS: We connect low-income individuals and families with our affordable homes through an online application available on our website and partner sites such as the Tennessee Housing Development Agency and the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency. Prospective residents who meet income guidelines will qualify for housing and will be assigned a unit based on their income level, household size, and accessibility requirements. Almost all of our homes have income restrictions and are built to Accessibility, Universal Design, and Energy Star standards. We are excited to enhance the sustainability of our affordable homes by integrating resilient and renewable energy systems. 

What are your ambitions for this project? How many homes would you like to see with solar and battery storage in Nashville? 

SJS: Our mission is to pave the way for equitable clean energy adoption, economic empowerment, and affordable housing for Nashville’s environmental justice communities, who stand to gain the most from these initiatives. 

We want to establish a new standard in affordable housing construction where solar energy is considered essential rather than optional. We envision this project serving as a compelling case study, demonstrating the benefits of solar-equipped units compared to those without. We aim to emphasize the cost savings and advantages, especially during electrical power outages. 

In Nashville, with approximately 205,000 homes, if 15% or about 30,000 homes were equipped with solar and battery storage, it could significantly enhance both environmental sustainability and quality of life for many residents. Such a move would reduce the strain on the Nashville Electric Service grid and potentially eliminate the need for additional coal-burning power plants by TVA [Tennessee Valley Authority]. Our longer-term goal over the next 5 to 10 years is to reach 30% adoption of solar-equipped homes in Nashville. 

What is the cost to BHH to install solar+storage in a typical home? 

SJS: Total (less labor, permitting, and applications): $27,960  

Could you walk us through your approach to fundraising? What kind of funding are you looking for?  

SJS: My funding approach for the Solar Equity Program began with extensive research and networking with individuals and organizations involved in solar energy, energy, and environmental initiatives.  

I am seeking funding to cover all expenses related to the Solar Equity Program, including the prohibitive costs of installing solar and battery systems in our affordable housing. 

Funding is also essential for the workforce development component of the program, which will train and employ a diverse workforce within the renewable energy sector. This initiative seeks to generate jobs and foster economic development in underserved communities disproportionately affected by climate change. 

Additionally, financial support is needed for administrative expenses critical to launching, sustaining, and expanding the program. This will enable us to extend the benefits of solar energy to those who need it most. 

We are also seeking funding for the construction of our affordable homes that will receive these solar + battery systems. We are pursuing grant subsidies from programs such as the MDHA HOME Investment Partnership Program, THDA Housing Trust Fund, Barnes Fund for Affordable Housing, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to supplement our funding needs for renewable energy systems. 

We are actively seeking funding subsidies that enable us to manage our hard debt effectively and maintain rents within HUD HOME Rent Limits.  

Could you speak to some of the delays that the affordable housing sector generally or BHH specifically experiences when building new homes? How do these housing construction delays impact the fundraising strategy for the solar+storage component of the project, if at all? 

SJS: Delays in construction financing present a significant challenge for affordable housing developers, including our organization. These delays complicate our ability to finalize construction timelines, impacting our adherence to supplemental grants and project schedules, including those for integrating solar + storage and workforce components.  

Securing financing for affordable housing entails three stages: acquisition, construction loans, and permanent financing. Recent tightening in bank financing conditions has made it increasingly difficult to obtain both acquisition and construction loan financing. Even if secured, the high interest rates and elevated down payment requirements have limited the number of projects we can pursue simultaneously.  

Solar panels and backup storage are often viewed as optional rather than essential components in home construction projects. Consequently, their costs are typically not included as ‘needs’ in construction or permanent financing budgets. This means that incorporating solar energy solutions requires additional funding from our organization or grants from supporters like Clean Energy Group, placing a strain on our financial resources. 

Looking ahead, we hope for a future where solar energy is considered as essential as traditional home fixtures such as water heaters or HVAC systems, supported by municipal utility assistance programs. Fundraising success is directly tied to project outcomes—the more housing units we can complete, the greater our funding potential. Thus, the current slowdown in the market has had a direct impact on our ability to deliver affordable housing. 

Who are the “allies” (people working towards environmental sustainability or energy resilience) you have found in this space? What organizations in Nashville, in Tennessee, or nationally have you found to be a good resource or partner? Do you have any advice for other organizations looking for “allies” in their area? 

SJS: Some of the allies I have found outside of Tennessee include Clean Energy Group, Hammond Climate Foundation’s Moonshot Program, and Aur Beck of AES Solar. Locally in Nashville and Middle Tennessee, our allies include The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Jason Carney of Energy Electives, the Tennessee Solar Energy Association, Plenty International, Lightwave Solar, the Southeast Center for Cooperative Development, and the Climate Reality Project. 

For organizations seeking allies in your area, my advice would be to conduct thorough research to identify local environmental leaders and reach out to them. 

Do you have any advice you would share to a project that is developing a funding strategy for a solar+storage project? 

SJS: Networking is crucial for developing a funding strategy for the Solar Equity Program. Build personal connections and engage actively. I look for grant opportunities and forge partnerships with local individuals and organizations dedicated to solar energy, energy initiatives, and environmental causes.  

When focusing on affordable housing, we emphasize the long-term benefits of integrating solar energy systems. Show how these systems can gradually lower utility expenses for tenants or homeowners, paying for themselves over time. It is essential to break down the initial costs in your budget and financial projections across multiple years. Although the upfront investment may seem significant, a comprehensive 10- or 20-year operating proforma demonstrates that these costs are modest in the context of the overall project scope.

CEG also awarded BHH a Resilient Power Leadership Initiative capacity-building grant to support the development of a solar+storage workforce training program. Why is workforce training an important element to BHH? 

SJS: The purpose of introducing the workforce development component of the Solar Equity Program is to draw on the original vision of Be a Helping Hand as a workforce development program by training and employing a diverse workforce. The renewable energy field has historically lacked diversity and representation within minority and workforce communities. We want to change that. 

The global shift toward renewable energy is pivotal for human health and the environment, necessitating a focus on equity, affordability, and accessibility. This transformation must ensure that individuals of all races, nationalities, incomes, and geographic locations can engage in and benefit from sustainable energy initiatives. 

By training participants to install solar arrays and battery storage systems on affordable homes, we aim to empower communities and pave the way towards equitable clean energy, economic empowerment, and affordable housing in Nashville. This approach not only addresses energy burdens and climate change but also enhances resilience and improves quality of life for low-income communities disproportionately affected by historical injustices. These communities also face crisis such as life-threatening heat waves, tornadoes, the pandemic, gentrification, and housing shortages, issues that disproportionately impact the neighborhoods where BHH is actively engaged in affordable housing construction. 

In our rapidly changing climate, we recognize that people require not only affordable housing but also housing equipped with renewable and resilient energy systems, along with access to clean energy training and jobs for economic empowerment.

“The Technical Assistance Fund predevelopment support from Clean Energy Group has been instrumental for our organization. It provided crucial technical insights that enabled us to secure additional grant funding and effectively promote our solar + storage program. Clean Energy Group’s supportive guidance kept us organized and on track throughout the development process, while their resources and expert advice on navigating the Federal Investment Tax Credit were invaluable. We are so grateful for Clean Energy Group’s support, which has empowered our efforts to increase energy resilience and equity in Nashville’s affordable housing and environmental justice communities.”

Sara Jean Schweitzer, Green Programs Director, Be a Helping Hand