Full Breakdown
California SOMAH Program: Funding, Outcomes, Controversies
5/29/2026, 5:47:28 AM
Legislative Origins and Program Goals
The SOMAH program was created under Governor Jerry Brown, who signed legislation directing the California Air Resources Board to allocate up to $100 million annually from cap-and-trade funds for solar on low-income apartments. Governor Gavin Newsom later expanded the initiative, making solar a central element of the state’s clean-energy strategy.
Funding, Targets, and Delivered Capacity
Since 2015, California has allocated nearly $900 million to SOMAH, of which $131 million funded installations and over $700 million remains unspent. The program targeted 300 MW by 2030 and one million solar renters. Audits show only 129 MW installed, serving about 65,600 residents.
Contractors and Community Partners
Sunrun Inc. performed 78 % of SOMAH projects. The firm donated $50,000 to Governor Newsom’s campaigns and placed former staff on the California Energy Commission and a regional water-quality board. SOMAH allocated at least $5.5 million to community-based organizations, including $163,000 to the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, $230,000 to the California Environmental Justice Alliance, and support to Communities for a Better Environment.
Criticism, Operational Delays, and Audit Findings
Audits report average processing times of 3.5 years, over 400 cancelled or withdrawn applications, and idle installations awaiting permission. Program overhead totals about $60 million. A draft audit noted an inverse relationship between new applications and CBO spending, indicating outreach funds have not boosted participation.
Official Policy Statements
State officials describe SOMAH as a tool to raise renewable-energy capacity and lower electricity costs for low-income households. The founding legislation earmarked cap-and-trade funds to subsidize solar on multifamily housing, aiming to expand clean-energy access to underserved communities.
Conflicting Data and Gaps
Performance metrics fall short of goals: the 300 MW target and one million renters contrast with 129 MW installed for about 65,600 residents. Financial data show $131 million spent on installations versus $900 million allocated, leaving most funds unused. The audit’s inverse correlation between applications and CBO spending questions outreach effectiveness.
Verbatim Quotes
- “but after a long and laborious process, they are much less enthusiastic.” — SOMAH contractor
- “hard to justify poking a whole bunch of holes in your roof all over the place, just for a small amount of benefit.” — California property owner
- “We must make the transition to 100 percent clean energy and bring all communities along to avoid a devastating climate apartheid.” — then-executive director, California Environmental Justice Alliance
- “fight against the systems of white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism of the extractive economy.” — Vivian Yi Huang, co-director, Asian Pacific Environmental Network
- “[W]e stand in solidarity with migrant, low-income, queer and trans, and people of color.” — Communities for a Better Environment
Outlook
The draft audit will guide legislative and administrative reviews. Sunrun and CBO partners may face revised eligibility, streamlined permitting, and tighter oversight of outreach funds. Future adjustments aim to align spending with the program’s renewable-energy and affordability objectives.
