The U.S. Department of Energy will invest in more than $8 billion through competitions, private capital and conditional loans to expand solar energy to reduce pollution and Americans’ energy costs.
Twenty-five teams were selected by the Department of Energy’s National Community Solar Partnership “to participate in the $10 million Community Power Accelerator Prize competition” that will create a network of community solar project developers, according to an April 20 news release. Teams have the potential of accessing $5 billion in private sector financing through the Community Power Accelerator.
“Ensuring every community has access to the benefits from affordable clean energy resources like solar is key to President Biden's vision of an equitable clean energy future,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in the release. “With today’s announcements, DOE is providing an exciting new set of tools and important assistance to support solar deployment across the nation so that all communities can enjoy the economic and critical public health benefits that come with deploying renewable energy.”
Prize awards of $200,000 are also available through the Department of Energy’s 2023 Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar, the release reported. The competition’s goal is the development of “community solar projects and programs that increase equitable access.”
The 25 winners in the Community Power Accelerator Prize competition each will receive $50,000 and “participate in a learning lab and obtain technical assistance” to prepare their project portfolios for financing, the release said.
“At the end of the next phase of the competition, teams will list their projects on the Community Power Accelerator’s online platform, ensuring visibility to the platform’s financing and philanthropic partners,” the release said. “The winners span 16 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.”
Submissions are open for the 2023 Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar that’s in its second year. Applications for the prizes will be accepted until July 14. Information about the competition is available online at the competition’s website, according to the release.
"In its second year, the Sunny Awards will recognize community solar projects, and state, municipal, Tribal and utility-led community solar programs that employ best practices in delivering benefits to their subscribers and communities," the release said. "Applicants will compete for a prize pool of $200,000, including up to five grand prize awards of $10,000 each."
