Community Power Accelerator Prize

Federal Agency

Sub-Department

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)

Purpose

To fast-track the efforts of new, emerging, and expanding solar developers and co-developers to learn, participate, and grow their operations to support multiple successful community solar projects.

Applicant and/or Project Eligibility Requirements

Competitors should be community solar (co)developers interested in expanding staff and operations and incorporating meaningful benefits into multiple community solar projects, either through an existing project portfolio of at least 1 MW or with plans to develop at least 1 MW of community solar.

Decarbonization Considerations

Local governments can pitch this program to non-profit and private partners involved in developing community solar. Doing so can help power these entities with clean energy, meet public energy goals, and develop the local solar market. For particularly innovative project that enhance and expand upon current community solar models, consider Community Solar+ strategies: https://rmi.org/introducing-community-solar-the-next-generation-of-community-solar/

Equity Considerations

Consider accelerating community solar in areas where disadvantaged entities are likely to recoup the benefits (e.g., energy savings, clean power, reduced pollution, brownfield reuse, etc.).

Helpful Tips

These cash prizes will enable mission-aligned developers to expand their staff and operations and design and deploy multiple community solar projects. The projects will use replicable business models and prioritize equitable access to expand community solar and drive new capital to community solar across the country.

Other Notes

See the list of Phase 1 winners here: https://www.energy.gov/communitysolar/community-power-accelerator-prize-round-1, See the list of Phase 2 winners here: https://www.energy.gov/communitysolar/community-power-accelerator-prize-round-2