Author: DOE Solar Energy  Technologies Office Published: Thu, May 30, 2019

The solar industry is booming, but not everyone has been able to benefit. That’s why the Solar in Your Community Challenge was created: to develop new business and financial models that can expand affordable solar access, including low- to moderate-income (LMI) communities, nonprofits, local and tribal governments, and faith-based organizations. More than 170 teams built and implemented a variety of models that could be sustained and widely replicated across the country. Overall, the winning teams proposed 25.7 megawatts of solar energy projects across the country that will save 1,200 households and 18 nonprofit organizations 15% to 25% on their energy bills, on average. And the winners are…

• Best LMI Project
  • Grand Prize ($500,000 prize): The CARE Project from Denver, Colorado, was led by the Housing Authority of the City and County of Denver.
  • Runner-Up ($200,000 prize): The Community Solar for Community Action team from Backus, Minnesota, was led by the Rural Renewable Energy Alliance.
• Best LMI Program ($100,000 prize): The Kerrville Area Solar Partners team from Kerrville, Texas, was led by the Kerrville Public Utility Board of Texas.
• Best Nonprofit Project ($100,000 prize): The Making Energy Work for Rural Oregon team from Portland, Oregon, was led by Sustainable Northwest.
• Best Nonprofit Program ($100,000 prize): The Fellowship Energy team from Burlingame, California, was led by Fellowship Energy.

Learn more about their projects—and the 12 teams who were given special recognition—on our webpage.