Directory of Solar Energy Technical Assistance Available to Community-Based Organizations

One-on-one support to help organizations gain a better understanding of solar+storage and its benefits. CBOs can also receive targeted funding to engage technical expertise to produce a solar+storage feasibility assessment for a proposed project.

The TAF supports organizations that provide essential services to low-income and underserved communities, environmental justice communities, and communities of color so that they can develop resilient power solutions for critical community service providers in the event of a power outage. Clean Energy Group works with community centers, emergency shelters, cooling centers, affordable housing, food pantries, fire departments, and health clinics to provide information and guidance.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/newTAF

info@cleanegroup.org

EPN’s network of volunteers helps organizations navigate various aspects of EPA, including potential grants, regulatory processes, federal policies, and publicly available data to support their work.

EPN’s pro bono Capacity-Building Technical Assistance Program provides assistance to communities, NGOs, and state, local, and tribal agencies disproportionately impacted by environmental and health issues. EPN also offers bi-weekly updates on federal funding opportunities here: https://www.environmentalprotectionnetwork.org/category/federal-funding-opportunities-and-resources/

https://www.environmentalprotectionnetwork.org/our-work/capacity-building/apply-here/

Map of EPA regions and respective Community Outreach Associates: https://www.environmentalprotectionnetwork.org/community-outreach-associates/

NCSP Partners. State agencies and other community solar stakeholders that agree to participate actively in the NCSP can apply to be NCSP partners. To become a NCSP Partner, visit the NCSP website and set up a Mobilize Account: https://ncsp.solarinyourcommunity.org/registrations/groups/39758

Assistance is available in five areas: research; project financing analysis; outreach; program design; and technical issues.

Sample formats for the assistance include: consultation on programs; technical review of proposed projects; analysis of program benefits, costs, and impacts; market studies; toolkits; and case studies

community.solar@ee.doe.gov

There are 16 regional Technical Assistance Centers as part of the TCTAC program that provide direct support and TA to communities and stakeholders in specific regional and/or geographic areas (map of the 16 EJ TCTACs). The EJ TCTACs are meant to provide readily accessible technical assistance to help communities meet their EJ goals and to help build their capacity to access federal resources and other opportunities.

Examples of technical assistance include:

• Grant proposal writing and preparation assistance
• Managing federal grants (e.g., accounting, policies, controls)
• Identifying funding sources to apply for
• Providing guidance on community engagement, meeting facilitation, and translating and interpretating for limited English-speaking participants
• Creating and managing communication channels to ensure all communities have direct access to resources and information

To submit a request for technical assistance, identify the EJ TCTAC for your region from the table in this link and navigate to their individual website: https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communities-technical-assistance-centers#Map%20of%20the%20EJ%20TCTACs

https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/environmental-justice-thriving-communities-technical-assistance-centers#Submitting%20a%20Request%20for%20Technical%20Assistance

Examples of technical assistance include:

• Grant application support
• Project planning and development
• Outreach and engagement
• General capacity building

Post-award TA through CCTA offers support with grants management reporting.

https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/forms/community-change-grants-technical-assistance-request-form

EJ_TechAssist@epa.gov

https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/09501b3dad374a81a5ee857fc31648ce

TechnicalAssistance@hq.doe.gov

Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is a state economic development agency dedicated to accelerating the growth of the of the clean energy sector across the Commonwealth. EmPower Massachusetts offers multiple stages of investment in communities and community-based organizations so that they can explore, develop, and implement program models or projects that provide access to the benefits of clean energy for previously underserved populations. EmPower offers funding to meet the following goals:

• Innovation & Capacity-Building Grants ($5,000 to $50,000 grants)
• Implementation Grants ($50,000 to $300,000 grants)

The Innovation & Capacity-Building Grants provide support for purposes such as staff time devoted to program concept development or refinement; technical studies needed to move projects forward; costs for a grant writer, accountant, lawyer, or other professional services; or community engagement expenses.

The Implementation Grants provide funding to implement community-based programs or projects that provide the benefits of clean energy to and/or reduce energy burden on previously underserved population priority groups.

https://www.masscec.com/program/empower-massachusetts#apply

empower@masscec.com

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), NY-Sun. NYSERDA is the state agency in New York that works to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, and emissions reduction across the state’s economy and energy system. NY-Sun is a public-private partnership in New York state that drives growth in the solar industry and makes solar energy more affordable for all New Yorkers.

The Affordable Solar and Storage Predevelopment and Technical Assistance program provides up to $200,000 per project to address barriers to solar and energy storage installations benefitting low-to-moderate income (LMI) households not served by traditional onsite residential solar and providers of regulated affordable housing to LMI households

This program funds project activities in areas including, but not limited to:

• Early-stage project planning, project team organization, and site identification
• Procurement and contracting
• Customer outreach and enrollment
• Development of project models that allocate benefits to an environmental justice (EJ) community

This funding does not apply to system design, engineering, hardware, installation, or other costs related to the construction of a solar project.

https://nyserda.seamlessdocs.com/f/NYSun_AffordableSolar

affordablesolar@nyserda.ny.gov

Washington State Department of Commerce, which administers more than 100 programs in Washington state related to community and economic develop, including clean energy and solar programs.

The Solar plus Storage for Resilient Communities program funds solar and battery back-up power so community buildings can provide essential services when the power goes out. The Washington State Department of Commerce offers two technical assistance opportunities at no cost to a limited number of communities through the Solar plus Storage for Resilient Communities program. This assistance will position communities to apply for future funding through Commerce’s Solar plus Storage for Resilient Communities grant program. Commerce will prioritize requests from rural, tribal, and other communities most vulnerable to the impacts from power outages and emergencies.

Planning Assistance: This energy resilience planning assistance opportunity will explore the best energy resilience systems based on specific community needs to help them navigate and prepare for future funding opportunities. An energy resilience specialist from Commerce’s Energy Resilience and Mitigation Team will provide this assistance.

Feasibility Studies: Feasibility studies will help the community size their solar plus storage system, identify permitting, zoning, and interconnection considerations, and identify costs and financial benefits. Commerce has selected two vendors, Cascadia Renewables and Sazan Group, who will provide these feasibility studies at no cost to communities.

https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/5cfd24d2a7a94191b404ffde7c8e101c

Solar@Commerce.wa.gov

https://forms.office.com/g/8yAitnuTzB

C2Cexpertmatch@nrel.gov