Developing an Impactful Solar for All Proposal

This guide by RMI provides strategic and technical recommendations for entities applying for the EPA's Solar for All program, a $7 billion initiative under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) designed to expand low-income solar access nationwide.

• The Solar for All competition is a $7 billion program aimed at expanding low-income solar access, including residential rooftop solar, residential-serving community solar, storage, and energy efficiency upgrades. The EPA will award up to 60 grants, with award sizes ranging from $25 million (for up to 10,000 households) to $400 million (for more than 30,000 households).
• To maximize household savings, RMI recommends that programs prioritize households with a high energy burden—defined as electricity costs that are 6% of income or higher—rather than simply targeting an average household savings of 20%.
• Battery storage should be strategically deployed in high-priority resilience scenarios because it adds cost without a quick payback. Recommended use cases include homes not connected to the grid, residents relying on life-saving medical equipment, and areas subject to frequent power shut-offs from wildfires or high wind events.
• Applicants can leverage the enhanced commercial Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the Direct Pay mechanic by partnering with Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) or nonprofit financial institutions. These entities can act as third-party owners to capitalize on the full ITC value and later transfer ownership to homeowners to build community wealth.
• To reduce installation costs, program administrators are encouraged to use bulk procurement through centrally managed programs like Solarize Campaigns and to implement supportive local policies such as automated permitting to lower 'soft' costs.
• Workforce development should include local hiring requirements in developer RFPs and provide job training paired with wrap-around services like case management and mentorship. RMI cites Coalfield Development’s 33-6-3 model as an example of such an approach.
• The guide identifies several critical regulatory barriers that applicants must address, including net metering rates, third-party ownership laws, interconnection rules, and Renewable Portfolio Standards. If these are unfavorable, applicants are advised to engage state legislators or utilities, particularly during the update of integrated resource plans (IRP).
• Effective customer acquisition for disadvantaged communities requires bi-directional engagement and partnerships with trusted local community organizations. Strategies include providing honoraria for participation, offering childcare and translation services, and using non-energy framing such as bill savings and resilience.

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} }