Working to Revitalize Democracy: New Power Project The New Power Project is a relatively new initiative that will seek out values-driven individuals who have grown up in marginalized or underserved communities and help them run for elective office. It will work to break down barriers that so often prevent these individuals from seeking and winning public office, such as a …
April 2023 Policy Blog
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst ******************* Biden-Harris Administration Announces $550 Million to Advance Environmental Justice The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $550M from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to expedite investments through EPA’s new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking (EJ TCGM) program. This program will fund up to 11 entities to serve as grantmakers that …
2022 ICAST Annual Report
Read the ICAST 2022 Annual Report: 2022 ICAST Annual Report
ICAST Experts Weigh In: The Inflation Reduction Act: Potential for Scaling Solar in Underserved Communities
ICAST Experts Weigh In: The Inflation Reduction Act: Potential for Scaling Solar in Underserved Communities By Sam Lipman | ICAST Director of Solar Programs Mr. Lipman is responsible for the development of shared solar projects, thus furthering ICAST’s work to help underserved communities benefit from clean energy solutions. While solar PV generation in the U.S. has grown dramatically, this growth has not …
March 2023 Policy Blog
Kristen Cheriegate | ICAST Policy Analyst ******************* U.S. Department of Energy Launches Community Power Accelerator Prize The Community Power Accelerator Prize is a $10 million prize competition designed to expand the ecosystem of community solar project developers by providing funding, resources, tools, and training to new and established developers. Eligible entities include U.S. community solar developers, including new developers, co-developers …
ICAST’s AmeriCorps VISTA Program: Meet the VISTA Members
ICAST’s AmeriCorps VISTA Program: Meet the VISTA Members Since 2021, ICAST has been a host site for Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) members. Some VISTA members from that first year went on to other organizations, while some stayed with ICAST. Recently, new VISTA members joined the team. Their hard work and dedication help us reduce low-income households’ energy burdens, preserve affordable housing, and …
Funding for Green Upgrades and Preservation
By Ravi Malhotra, Founder and President, ICAST NH&RA, March 2023 Engaging Multifamily Owners The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with approximately $35 billion that is relevant to multifamily affordable housing. These funds are for emissions reduction projects, and multifamily housing can access them to facilitate green upgrades for affordable housing preservation. Through two separate programs, …
How Colorado’s Multifamily Affordable Housing can Benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
How Colorado’s Multifamily Affordable Housing can Benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law By Ravi Malhotra, Founder and President, ICAST Colorado Real Estate Journal – Multifamily Properties Quarterly, February 2023 The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) dramatically expand opportunities for multifamily affordable housing (MFAH) to leverage cash rebates, tax credits, and other …
Pursuing Green Projects: How Multifamily Affordable Housing Can Benefit from the IRA and BIL
Pursuing Green Projects: How Multifamily Affordable Housing Can Benefit from the IRA and BIL by Ravi Malhotra National Housing & Rehabilitation Association, February 2023 The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) dramatically expand opportunities for multifamily affordable housing to pursue green projects via cash rebates, tax credits and other incentives. The IRA is by far the largest investment in …
ICAST Experts Weigh In: What Virtual Power Plants Can Mean for Multifamily
Nick Grahf | Demand-Side Management Program Manager Mr. Grahf furthers ICAST’s mission to drive economic, environmental, and social change by designing and implementing demand-side management programs. ICAST supported a large-scale virtual power plant (VPP) development at the Soleil Lofts property through its implemented Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart Multifamily Program. These net-zero apartments utilize clean energy and are equipped with 5.3 …