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Early Application Deadline
Jan 6th, 2017
Featured
Clean Solar Energy for Affordable Housing Residents
The Wilmington Housing Authority (WHA), joined by Mayor Mike Purzycki, Governor John Carney and other local and state officials on June 18 to officially dedicated its new Southbridge Solar Park at 900 South Claymont Street. The 1.15 megawatt solar installation will save the housing authority money and provide clean, renewable solar-generated electricity to WHA residents. The solar array – developed, financed and constructed by New York-based Ecogy Energy— is currently the largest, privately-financed, public housing solar project in the United States.
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.
Rays the Valley completes 19 kW installation on Sunnyside Daycare
This recent installation was financed through third parties and is the latest success in Rays the Valley's work through the Solar in Your Communities Challenge
Solar Pioneers completes their second Solar Bootcamp up-skilling youth for employment in the solar industry
Solar in Your Community team Solar Pioneers has recently completed two Solar Bootcamps.
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.
ICMA Annual Conference - September 23 - 26 in Baltimore, Maryland
Join us for the ICMA annual conference. We are facilitating a session on the Solar in Your Community Challenge on Monday Sept 24th 1:00 - 4:00 pm in which featured teams will present and share their stories! Let us know if you’re interested in joining the discussion! Email clark.henry@icma.org today!
Michigan Clean Energy Conference
SYC Teams present their work through the Solar in Your Communities Challenge in Michigan and Puerto Rico. Thank you SYC Coach Diane Cheklich and Michigan based teams! Solar Neighbors of Detroit - Solar faithful - TC Rise - Hope Village Initiative. Check out the video! https://www.facebook.com/groundworkcenter/videos/10160532599355187/
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
Virginia Is For Solar
GRID Alternatives and Habitat for Humanity Making Solar Accessible to Everyone!
Upper Peninsula Solar Technical Assistance Resource Team (UPSTART)
Powering community solar in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
City of DuranGO Solar
Taking an innovative, integrated approach to scaling up solar in our sunny Southwest Colorado community.
Rozelle-Annesdale Community Initiative
Change the culture, changes the behavior, changes the community
Leon Iowa Solar Initiative
Help nonprofit organizations, businesses and residents lower electricity costs to increase the economic base of Decatur County, Iowa.
Waco Community Solar Farm
Making quality, affordable housing even more affordable through reduced energy costs.
Directed Resiliency of Ulster County
Directing affordable resilient renewable energy systems to the non-profit and lower income communities
Blue Lake Rancheria Tribal Community Solar Rezilience
“Baduwat ledik, huluvigaduvi'milh” From the Wiyot: ‘Mad River sunshine, so many kinds of uses.’
Community Solar for Community Action
Using Social Impact Bonding and community trust ownership models to Demonstrate a New National Model of Low-income Energy Assistance.
Project Carolina Phoenix
Bringing solar arrays to community supporting organizations, The Ronald McDonald House and Voorhees College.
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester
Clean and renewable, why wouldnt you go green with the use of solar energy?
Centennial Parkside Community Development Corporation
People powering their future into the next Centennial
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.