Solar Energy Evolution and Diffusion Studies 4 (SEEDS 4)

Federal Agency

Sub-Department

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)

Purpose

To invest in innovative social science research that generates actionable insights to improve large-scale solar (LSS) siting processes and outcomes for host communities—particularly those that are disadvantaged—and the solar industry.

Applicant and/or Project Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, for-profit entities, nonprofit entities, state and local governmental entities, and tribal governments.

Decarbonization Considerations

While there are no explicit decarbonization considerations related to community acceptance of solar deployment, this FOA will fund research that will increase compatibility of new solar projects and the communities they are sited in, hopefully leading to an increase in LSS deployment in your community and others.

Equity Considerations

Often, communities, residents, and developers have unequal access to information and knowledge of large-scale solar siting processes. This inequality can lead to inequitable outcomes for landowners and communities that stand to benefit from development on their land. When developing proposals, consider including research around the environmental justice impacts of LSS siting and ensuring that landowners and communities are adequately compensated for producing energy for others.

Helpful Tips

SETO seeks proposals for projects that examine how siting practices, defined as interventions or actions executed during LSS siting by one or more stakeholders, affect outcomes. Outcomes of interest include:community acceptance or opposition; permitting and land use decisions, predictability, and timeliness; and community impacts (including meaningful benefits, burdens, and equity and procedural and distributional justice).

Other Notes

N/A