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Ahead of Earth Day, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, and SETO Director, Becca Jones-Albertus, visited the D.C. Solar for All community solar site, where they announced several new solar energy investments to increase domestic solar manufacturing and recycling, strengthen the American clean energy grid, and accelerate community solar across the country.
Secretary Granholm announced the launch of the 2023 American-Made Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar, which recognizes projects and programs that employ or develop best practices to increase equitable access to meaningful benefits of community solar. Register for an informational webinar on May 9 at 12 p.m. ET.
The Operation and Planning Tools for Inverter-Based Resource Management and Availability for Future Power Systems (OPTIMA) funding opportunity is looking for projects that will advance grid planning and operation tools. Register for an informational webinar, today, May 4 at 3 p.m. ET and submit a concept paper by June 5 at 5 p.m. ET.
25 competitors were selected to win $50,000 and advance to the next phase of the American-Made Community Power Accelerator Prize, which is designed to expand a robust ecosystem of community solar developers that incorporate meaningful benefits into their projects nationwide.
SETO announced $24 million to fund 9 projects that advance innovative product ideas that can spur U.S. solar manufacturing, especially in cadmium telluride photovoltaics (PV).
SETO announced $28 million in funding for 10 projects that make PV more recyclable, reduce manufacturing costs, and advance the manufacturing of PV cells from perovskites.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) announced the Class of 2023 winners in the Solar District Cup Collegiate Design Competition. Throughout the competition, student teams designed and modeled solar-plus-storage systems to meet the needs of a real-world district. See which teams were crowned the winners.
Don’t forget to participate in these funding opportunities, prizes, and solicitations:
- Communities to Clean Energy Program In-Depth Partnerships – Community teams consisting of representatives from local governments, community-based organizations, and electric utilities are encouraged to apply by May 17.
- Energizing Rural Communities Prize – Individuals and organizations can apply for phase one until May 24.
- Small Innovative Projects in Solar (SIPS) Funding Opportunity – Diverse teams from universities, federally funded research and development centers, nonprofits, community-based organizations, state agencies, local governments, and solar developers are encouraged to apply by June 1.
- U.S. Solar Manufacturing Workforce Request for Information – Members of the solar industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, manufacturers, suppliers, education and training providers, community-based organizations, and workers’ rights organizations can submit feedback by June 2.
- The 2023 Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar – Community solar projects and programs can apply by July 14.
Thinking about buying a home with a solar energy system already installed on the roof? Powering your home with solar can help you save on electricity bills and be more energy independent. SETO has a new resource to help you make an informed decision.
Reinforcing solar panels against the elements is important to increasing their efficiency and extending their lifetimes. Learn how NREL has improved modeling to help researchers and industry personnel develop robust, durable solar panels that are also as thin, lightweight, and cost-effective as possible.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury released guidance on the eligibility requirements for the Energy Communities Bonus Credit Program, which offers a 10% increase of the Investment or Production Tax Credits to brownfields, fossil fuel communities with high unemployment, and coal closure communities. Check out this map to see which communities qualify across the United States.
May 4 | 3:00 p.m. Time
SETO is hosting an informational webinar to go over the rules and guidelines for the new OPTIMA funding opportunity.
May 9 | 12 p.m. ET
Join the National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP) at this informational webinar to ask questions and learn how to compete in the 2023 Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar.
May 11 | 2 p.m. ET
i2X is hosting a new meeting series, the Solution e-Xchange, to facilitate open dialogue across the U.S. electricity ecosystem on important interconnection issues. Join the upcoming session titled “Managing the Bulk Power System Interconnection Study Process.”
May 22 | 2 p.m. ET
NCSP is launching a webinar series to highlight best practices in developing community solar projects and programs that deliver meaningful benefits to subscribers and their communities. Register for the first webinar about the meaningful benefit of greater household savings.
May 23-24 | 12 p.m.ET
Learn and discuss the various elements of community solar program design, as well as ownership options relevant to municipal utilities in this new continuing education course presented in partnership with the American Public Power Association and NREL.
May 24 | 1 p.m. ET
Join the AgriSolar Clearinghouse for a webinar series on agrivoltaics, the co-location of solar and agriculture on the same land.
SETO is connecting the dots on the renewable grid, health, and the environment. Learn about solar energy’s role in decarbonizing the grid and the many health and environmental benefits awaiting consumers, communities, ecosystems, and economies nationwide:
Follow along with our Connect the Dots content on social media and join the conversation using the hashtag #ConnectSolar
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