Developing an Impactful Solar for All Proposal

The document outlines how to develop a competitive proposal for the EPA's Solar for All program, part of the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. It provides detailed guidance on five key evaluation criteria: impact assessment, meaningful benefits, market strategy, financial assistance, and equitable access. The guide emphasizes reducing upfront costs, leveraging federal tax credits via third-party ownership, and integrating energy efficiency to maximize benefits for disadvantaged communities.

• The Solar for All competition offers up to 60 grants ranging from $25 million (targeting up to 10,000 households) to $400 million (targeting over 30,000 households) to support residential rooftop solar, community solar, storage, and energy efficiency upgrades.
• To maximize household savings, the guide recommends prioritizing households with a high energy burden—defined as electricity costs that are 6% of income or higher—rather than aiming for a flat average savings percentage across all participants.
• Battery storage should be strategically deployed in high-priority resilience scenarios, such as for residents relying on life-saving medical equipment, homes subject to frequent power shut-offs from wildfires or high wind, or off-grid homes currently using hazardous fossil fuel generators.
• The guide suggests using Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) or other nonprofits as third-party owners to leverage the enhanced commercial Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and Direct Pay mechanics, which can then be used to transfer ownership to homeowners and build community wealth.
• Energy efficiency should be the first step in residential decarbonization to properly size solar systems and lower costs, although Solar for All funds for these 'enabling upgrades' are capped at 20% of the total financial assistance provided.
• Applicants are encouraged to address regulatory barriers such as net metering, interconnection rules, and third-party ownership policies by engaging state legislators, regulators, and utilities, particularly during the update of integrated resource plans (IRP).
• To ensure equitable access, the guide recommends partnering with trusted local community organizations, providing honoraria for participation, and using bi-directional engagement where communities provide proactive input rather than just feedback.

APA

RMI (2023). Developing an Impactful Solar for All Proposal. https://rmi.org/resources/developing-an-impactful-solar-for-all-proposal/

Chicago

RMI. Developing an Impactful Solar for All Proposal. 2023. https://rmi.org/resources/developing-an-impactful-solar-for-all-proposal/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Developing an Impactful Solar for All Proposal |date=31 July 2023 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/developing-an-impactful-solar-for-all-proposal/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2023developing, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Developing an Impactful Solar for All Proposal}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2023}, month = jul, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/developing-an-impactful-solar-for-all-proposal/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }