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Early Application Deadline
Jan 6th, 2017
Featured
Experts - Apply Now to Provide General TA to Teams
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.
Thrifty Community Solar Barn Raising
The Thrifty Community Solar team hosted a Barn Raising in June 2017, installing 150 panels in 4 hours with over 50 volunteers.
Solarize Philly is Gaining Momentum
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.
Challenge Workshop in Denver
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.
Featured
RC Cubed Renewable Energy Finance Platform
Accelerating Solar Energy Adoption by Not for Profit Organizations through Structured Finance
Directed Resiliency of Ulster County
Directing affordable resilient renewable energy systems to the non-profit and lower income communities
Illinois Green Economy Network
Providing a platform to expand the deployment of clean energy technologies, increase employment opportunities, improve environmental and...
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
Clean and renewable, why wouldnt you go green with the use of solar energy?
Virginia Is For Solar
GRID Alternatives and Habitat for Humanity Making Solar Accessible to Everyone!
Solar Pioneers
As members of the community, organized by local non-profit, Nehemiah Economic Development, Solar Pioneers overcome challenges of...
Faith in Place Solar
Solar for Illinois’s interfaith community. Providing low cost solar energy to faith communities in all Illinois Communities.
Chequamegon Bay Renewables, Inc.
Advocating for sustainability through renewable energy initiatives for Ashland and Bayfield Counties, Wisconsin.
Solarize South Dallas
Fostering a Viable Clean Economy in South Dallas Through Community-Based Solar
Making Energy Work In Rural Oregon
Piloting, refining, and replicating community solar across Oregon
Project Carolina Phoenix
Bringing solar arrays to community supporting organizations, The Ronald McDonald House and Voorhees College.
City of DuranGO Solar
Taking an innovative, integrated approach to scaling up solar in our sunny Southwest Colorado community.
Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Community Solar Rezilience
“Baduwat ledik, huluvigaduvi'milh” From the Wiyot: ‘Mad River sunshine, so many kinds of uses.’
Community Wealth-Building through Shared Solar in Baltimore
By partnering with two churches in the Baltimore area, we aim to provide solar energy to underserved communities and LMI households. We...
Solar in Your Community challenge Bringing solar to all Americans
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 RulebookMotivation
Low 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.
Call to Action
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.
get involved
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.
Win Prizes
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.