

The Thrifty Community Solar team hosted a Barn Raising in June 2017, installing 150 panels in 4 hours with over 50 volunteers.
The Solar in Your Community Challenge hosted a workshop at the American Solar Energy Society meeting on Oct 11 in Denver. Download powerpoints from workshop presentations on solar finance and team success stories here.
Calling all consultants and coaches, log in and apply now to provide expert support to the Solar in your Community Challenge Teams! We’re looking for experts to develop and deliver training, webinars, and resources related to common questions the teams are facing around legal, finance, permitting, interconnection and installation, and other topics.
Solarize Philly is the first citywide solarize initiative in Philadelphia. A Solarize campaign allows a group of homeowners to install solar together at a reduced price. Led by the Philadelphia Energy Authority, the team’s goal is to add 2.5 MW of PV on 500 homes in the city. As of July, more than 1,500 households have expressed interest in participating, 11 contracts have been signed, and three solar installation companies have been selected.
Read past success stories here.
Developing community shared solar projects for an equitable clean energy future
Directing affordable resilient renewable energy systems to the non-profit and lower income communities
Clean and renewable, why wouldnt you go green with the use of solar energy?
Accelerating Solar Energy Adoption by Not for Profit Organizations through Structured Finance
Taking an innovative, integrated approach to scaling up solar in our sunny Southwest Colorado community.
Sustainable human, environmental, and community development that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of...
S-Solar is the answer for green power for the Southwest. H-helping the community is a cooperative principle. I-incorporating green...
Working to open opportunities for solar development to benefit low and moderate income households – paving the way for sustainably...
As members of the community, organized by local non-profit, Nehemiah Economic Development, Solar Pioneers overcome challenges of...
Starting with a pilot project, we will create a critical mass of energy efficient solar powered housing units for Low-Income (LI)...
The Solar in Your Community Challenge is a $5 million contest to support innovative and replicable community-based solar business models and programs that will bring solar to underserved communities.
Download RulebookLow and moderate income (LMI) households represent 40% of America’s population, but less than 5% of all solar customers. LMI households, non-profits, and government organizations face several barriers to going solar, including limited financing options, low or no credit history, and lack of access to the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit.
We call on innovators around the country to team up with key stakeholders in local communities and explore, pilot, and scale up new models that will create new solar markets for low and moderate income households, non-profits, and local governments.
Form a team to design and deploy scalable community-based solar projects or programs, up to 5MW in 18 months that serve at least 20% LMI households or 60% non-profits. Teams must register on the platform to join and then submit an application to participate. Projects and programs must be completed between 5/2/17 – 10/31/18.
Teams will compete for a $500,000 Grand Prize for most effectively demonstrating an innovative and scalable solar model. DOE will grant up to $5 million in cash prizes and technical assistance throughout the competition with up to $2 million in seed prizes, $2 million technical assistance, and $1 million in final prizes.