New Community Solar Guide Available
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar American Communities program released a community solar guide late last week. The guide presents detailed information about three project models: utility-sponsored projects, special purpose projects formed for producing community solar power and non-profit sponsored projects.
The guide outlines the legal and financial implications of each model, provides practical tools and tips for planning community solar projects, and outlines best practices. It is intended to provide an outline of hurdles community project organizers might incur. The guide also includes an appendix with information about the Interstate Renewable Energy Council's Model Community Renewables Program rules.
The guide was developed by Northwest Sustainable Energy for Economic Development, Keyes and Fox, Stoel Rives, and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. My colleague Janet F. Jacobs and I contributed to the Community Solar Project Models chapter, the Tax Policies and Incentives chapter and the Securities Compliance chapter.
The Guide to Community Solar can be accessed on and downloaded from the Solar America Communities Web site
Show Me the Money: $454 Million in Energy Efficiency Retrofits
The Department of Energy (“DOE”) announced a new $390 million energy upgrade program under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (“EECBG”) Program that could save $100 million annually in utility bills. DOE is looking for community-scale retrofit projects that will have a significant, long-lasting impact on energy consumption and which can be replicated in communities nationwide.
DOE is also making $64 million available under the EECBG to local governments that were not eligible to receive the formula grants announced earlier this year under the population-based formula.
These programs were announced through a Request for Information (“RFI”) issued today under the competitive portion of the EECBG Program. DOE is seeking public comment until Sept. 28, 2009.
A link to the Request for Information is below. This is not a funding opportunity announcement so no applications can be made at this point. The FOA is expected to be released in early October, following the public comment period.
$22 Million for Community Renewable Energy
The Department of Energy (DOE) announced this week that up to $22 million from the Recovery Act would be allotted to up to 4 eligible communities nationwide in order to encourage utility-scale renewable energy systems that provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy supplies for their communities, while creating jobs and new economic development opportunities. The projects will demonstrate how multiple renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal systems, can be deployed at scale to supply clean energy to communities. Eligible applicants are local and state governments, Indian Tribes and Tribal Energy Resource Development Organizations or Groups.
Successful applicants will be awarded financial assistance to support the implementation of an integrated renewable energy deployment plan for a community, and the construction of renewable energy systems. DOE expects each project to also have substantial private sector investment in addition to the funds from DOE. Completed applications are due September 3, 2009 and the DOE will select awardees by the end of November 2009.
