Solar Ambassador Prize - Phase 1

Federal Agency

Sub-Department

Grid Deployment Office (GDO)

Purpose

To assist DOE in identifying, engaging, and assisting with intake processing of qualifying households for residential solar and battery storage installations. This is a complementary program supporting the Topic Area 1 under the Puerto Rico - Energy Resilience Fund.

Applicant and/or Project Eligibility Requirements

Community-based organizations, nonprofits, and for-profit entities with an existing presence in Puerto Rico are eligible to apply to become Solar Ambassadors.

Decarbonization Considerations

Solar and battery systems will help lower the energy burden, enhance community resilience, and also contribute to emission reduction. Using this funding, community-based organizations are expected to educate homeowners about the Energy Resilience Fund program and the resilience and cost savings benefits of solar and storage.

Equity Considerations

Applicants need to demonstrate an ability to perform local, in-person outreach and community engagement to ensure that federal funding reaches the intended most vulnerable residents in a Last Mile community in Puerto Rico. Last Mile Community is a group of individuals living in geographic proximity (such as a census tract) that experience the most frequent power outages and/or the longest power outages.

Helpful Tips

To identify Puerto Rico Last Mile Communities, check the interactive map here: https://www.herox.com/solarambassador/resource/1394

Other Notes

"The Solar Ambassador Prize has three phases (Design, Deploy, and Advance), which are designed to prepare organizations for community outreach. The Solar Ambassador Prize will award more than $6 million in cash prizes to winning teams [throughout the competion]. In addition, teams may also receive nonmonetary recognition." See selections here: https://www.energy.gov/gdo/solar-ambassador-prize