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Early Application Deadline
Jan 6th, 2017
Featured
Registration for ASES Conference Now Open
Register Now and Enjoy the Full Conference Experience! Check out a summary of the full ASES Solar 2018 Conference (Boulder, Colorado, August 5-8), which includes the full-day Race to the Finish, Solar in Your Community Challenge Workshop. The free one-day SYC Challenge Workshop was designed just for you, as a Challenge Team Participant or Coach. But we think you may enjoy the full Conference experience in the beautiful and energy-forward community of Boulder, Colorado.
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.
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.
Piney Woods School Receives Solar Panels from Tesla
The Piney Woods School will install new solar panels thanks to a donation from Tesla to support the school’s #Panels4Piney campaign. Through #Panels4Piney, the students are working to transition 8-10% of the school’s energy to renewable sources, savings that will be reinvested back into students.In March, Panels4Piney launched with a goal of raising $150,000 to install 100 kilowatts worth of solar panels on campus ahead of its 110 year anniversary in 2019. Solar panels from Tesla will help students toward achieving this goal, but they still need to fundraise for the full installation.
Featured
Rozelle-Annesdale Community Initiative
Change the culture, changes the behavior, changes the community
Solar Working Group of Southwest Virginia
Transforming the economy of Virginia's coal-producing region by fueling innovation, leading collaboration and supporting...
Waco Community Solar Farm
Making quality, affordable housing even more affordable through reduced energy costs.
Team Wasaya
Sustainable human, environmental, and community development that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of...
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
Clean and renewable, why wouldnt you go green with the use of solar energy?
Sharing Solar
We seek to expand solar to low income homeowners by developing a sharing solar fund. The fund pays the upfront costs of installation,...
Clean Affordable Solar For All
Working to open opportunities for solar development to benefit low and moderate income households – paving the way for sustainably...
City of DuranGO Solar
Taking an innovative, integrated approach to scaling up solar in our sunny Southwest Colorado community.
Leon Iowa Solar Initiative
Help nonprofit organizations, businesses and residents lower electricity costs to increase the economic base of Decatur County, Iowa.
New Chicago Community Partnership Revitalization (CPR) - Boldly Resuscitating the Hood
A Collaboration of Concern Individuals Coming Together To Resuscitate A Poverty-Stricken Neighborhood Through Solar Panel Installation...
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.