“The Knolls Apartment community has provided dependable and affordable housing for families since 1963,” said Jonathan Russo, Senior Asset Manager for the Foundation for Affordable Housing. “This 260-unit complex offers a critical source of quality affordable housing for its residents. The Foundation is proud of our partnership with BLDG and the City in preserving the property’s purpose and affordability while also improving its condition and services for residents. Our shared mission is to continually enhance this property and we are thrilled to announce the installation of solar panels as a significant step towards furthering this goal.”
The 646-kilowatt solar system was installed on existing carports throughout the community. Eighty-nine percent of the energy produced by the solar panels will be credited to the residents’ accounts, free of charge. The project was made possible through the California Public Utilities Commission’s SOMAH (Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing) program and the Inflation Reduction Act. State funding for the initiative comes from polluters who purchase greenhouse gas allowances through the state’s cap-and-trade program and is a concrete demonstration of California’s commitment to reducing the climate impacts of the built environment.
Jonathan Russo added, “I actually grew up in the city of orange. I went through the school system here, played soccer every Saturday at Grijalva park next door, and my first job was at the Stater Brothers right across the street. Coming back to my home city and being part of this project couldn’t be more fulfilling. The city of Orange truly is a great place, and it’s solar projects like this that keep it that way.”
