DOE to Host Webinar on Community Solar Awards Program Aug. 18

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Community Solar Partnership will host a webinar on Aug. 18 to explain its new Sunny Award prize program, the awards to be given and how to nominate a community solar project or program for recognition.

Up to 50 projects will receive $1,000 and advance as finalists in the Equitable Community Solar prize challenge, and up to five finalists can win a Sunny Award and prizes of $10,000 per team. 

Winners will be recognized at the National Community Solar Partnership Summit in January.

The prizes, known as “The Sunny Awards,” recognize community solar projects and programs that develop or employ best practices to increase equitable access to the meaningful benefits of community solar for subscribers and their communities. 

These meaningful benefits include energy burden reduction, low- and moderate-income household access, increased resilience, community ownership, and equitable workforce development, Energy Department officials said.

Join the National Community Solar Partnership on Thursday, Aug. 18, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET to learn more about the prize program, the awards to be given, and how to nominate a community solar project or program for a Sunny Award.

“Community solar is a transformational solution that provides clean energy to anyone who subscribes to it, not just homeowners who can install solar panels on their roof,” said Kelly Speakes-Backman, principal deputy assistant secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the DOE. 

“It’s important to lift up projects that are spreading the sunshine and lowering energy bills so more Americans can benefit from community solar,” she said.

Applicants will submit their community solar project structure, practices, and benefits; relevant data and evidence to show the benefits their project provides; a narrative of their project development and goals; description of challenges they faced; and the results of the project.

 Judges will evaluate the project based on the quality of meaningful benefits it provides to its customers and the quality of the application materials.

Submissions are due by Oct. 7, 2022. The official rules on submission and participant eligibility are located here.

Register for the informational webinar, here.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue.