$200k Community Solar Program Awards

May 08, 2023

Last month, the U.S. Department of Energy National Community Solar Partnership announced the second round of the American-Made Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar, referred to as the Sunny Awards, that provides $200,000 to community solar projects and programs that employ best practices in delivering meaningful benefits to their subscribers and communities. 

The Sunny Awards competition recognizes community solar project portfolios and state-, utility-, municipal-, tribal- or territory-led programs that employ or develop best practices to increase equitable access to the meaningful benefits of community solar. These include low- to moderate-income household access, greater household savings, increased resilience, community ownership, and equitable workforce development and entrepreneurship.

Community solar is defined by DOE as any solar project or purchasing program in which the benefits of a solar project flow to multiple customers, such as individuals, businesses, nonprofits and other groups, within a certain geographic area. Community solar allows all community members to access the meaningful benefits of renewable energy, particularly those with low to moderate incomes, renters, and those for whom traditional rooftop solar is unavailable.

Applications for the prize competition are due by 1 p.m. Friday, July 14.

The DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office will host an informational webinar at 8 a.m. AKDT Tuesday, May 9 to discuss the prize program and the areas of focus. Registration closed for the webinar.