GRID Alternatives is Bringing Solar to Communities Across the U.S. Through $140,000 U.S. Energy Dept Award, Will Participate in National Solar Competition  

GRID Alternatives, America's largest non-profit solar installer, announced that seven of its projects or partners around the country were selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative's Solar in Your Community Challenge, a $5 million prize competition that aims to expand solar electricity access. Three of the projects also received financial and technical assistance awards totaling $140,000. 

Over the next 18 months, GRID will be working with multiple partners in several states to develop innovative projects targeting low-income communities through community, multifamily and rooftop solar and workforce development. 

"There are so many ways that people can benefit from solar power," said Erica Mackie, CEO and co-founder of GRID Alternatives. "We're excited to work with the Department of Energy to innovate new models for serving communities that wouldn't otherwise have access." [pending approval] 

GRID Alternatives and its partners will join hundreds of other teams from around the country in their pursuit of solar projects and programs that expand solar access to low- and moderate-income households and nonprofit organizations. All teams will compete for $1 million in final prizes, which will be awarded by judges based on each project or program's innovation, impact, and replicability. 

GRID's projects include an innovative new utility community solar program in Colorado, community solar projects in New York, new tribal shared solar and financing models with the San Pasqual reservation in San Diego County and Blue Lake Rancheria in Northern California; a new community-based community solar model serving multifamily affordable housing in Denver; a groundbreaking for-profit / nonprofit community solar development partnership model; and a first-of-its kind solar partnership serving affordable housing in Virginia. The projects will expand low-income solar access into new regions and to hard-to-serve residential customers and renters, demonstrate new, scalable financing and deployment models, as well as generate jobs and job training opportunities. Together they create a portfolio of models that are replicable and scalable across the country. 

GRID Alternatives | www.gridalternatives.org

Solar in Your Community Challenge | www.solarinyourcommunity.org