en.Wedoany.com Reported - Energy infrastructure company PearlX (PearlX Infrastructure) announced plans to install a 224 kW solar system at Golden Sands Apartments in Victorville, California. This project, launched in collaboration with PearlX, Aspen Real Estate Financing, and the Housing Authority of San Bernardino County, aims to reduce electricity costs for workforce housing residents.
PearlX stated that this collaboration is a practical example of its "Energy Estate" model, which treats multi-family residential buildings as distributed grid assets with long-term financing value. Michael Huerta, co-founder of PearlX Infrastructure, noted that this public-private partnership demonstrates the scalability of the "Energy Estate" model across the U.S. multi-family housing market. The company self-funds system installation and operation, with no cost to property owners. In return, PearlX pays rent to landlords in exchange for management rights over the property's energy systems and infrastructure.
The Golden Sands Apartments, where the project is located, feature 120 residential units and were recently acquired by Aspen Real Estate Financial LLC, the Housing Authority of San Bernardino County, and the California Affordable Housing Agency. PearlX emphasized that such solar projects hold practical significance for workforce housing communities. Company representatives estimate that due to rising utility rates, low-income households now spend over 15% of their income on energy bills, with no clear signs of rate increases slowing down, driven by factors such as artificial intelligence data centers and increased electrification.
The project's timing is considered opportune. Over the past five years, average energy bills for California residents have risen by nearly 30%, and approximately 56 million people across the U.S. face higher-than-normal utility costs. Residents participating in the Golden Sands solar project will receive a 12.5% discount on electricity rates compared to standard rates. Harry Richard, partner at Aspen Real Estate Financial, stated that these communities deserve infrastructure of the same quality as market-rate properties, and PearlX's deployment and long-term management model will benefit residents and operations teams for decades to come. Rishad Mitha, deputy director of the Housing Authority of San Bernardino County, noted that Golden Sands provides housing opportunities for working families who do not qualify for traditional affordable housing programs but still face high market rents, and the actual energy savings from the solar project further enhance the value of this partnership.
