Presentation Title:
Leveraging Utility Incentives to Advance Affordable Housing Outcomes
Track D: Clean Energy Transition: Challenges and Opportunities
Session D3: Grid Resilience and Flexibility in a Clean Energy Era
Day 2 - March 12, 2026Â 2:00 pm
Speaker(s):
Abstract:
| Willdan partners with utilities across the Pacific Northwest to design and deliver Energy Design Assistance (EDA) and incentive programs that intentionally prioritize affordable housing and income-qualified communities. Recognizing that energy costs represent a disproportionate burden on lower-income households, Willdan supports utilities in structuring enhanced incentives and bonus offerings for qualifying projects to improve feasibility, reduce long-term operating costs, and deliver durable benefits to tenants.
This session will focus on how Willdan operationalizes equity-driven program design for affordable housing. Topics include the use of bonus incentives for income-qualified developments, reduced eligibility thresholds to increase program accessibility, and proactive project identification through tax credit and affordable housing databases. Willdan will also discuss its active engagement with the affordable housing ecosystem, including participation in housing conferences, coordination with housing authorities and community partners, and direct outreach to developers and design teams to influence energy decisions early in project development. Attendees will learn how Willdan integrates utility allowance analysis with NEO energy modeling to financing, and incentive optimization for affordable housing projects. The presentation will also highlight how credits for emerging and advanced systems can be incorporated into EDA workflows to maximize both utility and resident value. |