The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Solar Energy Technologies Office today announced the winners of the 2023 Sunny Awards for Equitable Community Solar. Five applicants have been named Grand Prize Winners and will receive a $10,000 cash prize each. One applicant was named a Meaningful Benefit Award Winner in the Resilience Category and will receive a $5,000 cash prize for their project portfolio.
To receive recognition through the Sunny Awards, competitors were challenged to meet ambitious submission requirements that showcased the meaningful benefits delivered by their community solar projects and programs. Their applications were reviewed by the U.S. Department of Energy and a panel of external expert reviewers and scored based on their ability to provide and verify the meaningful benefits their projects or programs provide.
Congratulations to the five Grand Prize and one Meaningful Benefit Award winners! Read more about each team’s efforts toward expanding access to community solar below.
Grand Prize Award Winners
(Listed alphabetically.)
Illinois Solar For All
Illinois | Illinois Power Agency
Illinois Solar for All is a state-led program that supports 27 MW of community solar projects that serve at least 50% low- to moderate-income households. The program provides bill savings of 50% of the value produced by each subscriber’s share of the project. The Illinois Solar for All program was recognized for its success in delivering access to solar energy to over 1,200 low- to moderate-income households, meaningful household savings, opportunities for community ownership, equitable workforce development, as well as its use of community participation in program design and inclusive outreach best practices.
Overcoming Solar Barriers for Multifamily Housing
Washington | Olympia Community Solar
This project is a non-profit owned community solar project in Olympia, WA that provides over 30% bill savings to a community of 100% low- to moderate-income residents. The Overcoming Solar Barriers for Multifamily Housing project was recognized for its success in delivering access to solar energy to 82 low- to moderate-income households, providing meaningful household savings, and its use of community participation in project design.
Prologis Community Solar
New Jersey | Solar Landscape LLC
This is a 2.67 MW community solar project on top of a warehouse in Perth Amboy, NJ that provides energy bill savings to over 400 nearby low- to moderate-income households and workforce development opportunities for the community. The Prologis Community Solar project was recognized for its success in delivering access to solar energy to over 200 low- to moderate-income households and its equitable workforce development practices, as well as its use of inclusive outreach best practices.
Solar at Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE)
Massachusetts | Sunwealth Power Inc.
This is a portfolio of three solar canopies built on a synagogue in Acton, Massachusetts that supports both the synagogue’s building and low- to moderate-income households in the local community. The Solar at Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE) project was recognized for its success in delivering access to solar energy to 16 low- to moderate-income households, for providing meaningful household savings, and for its use of inclusive outreach best practices.
Staying Sunny in Colorado
Colorado | Xcel Energy Colorado
This investor-owned utility-led program supports 6 MW of community solar projects dedicated to 100% low- to moderate-income households in Xcel utility territory in Colorado, providing over 30% bill savings on average to subscribers. The Staying Sunny in Colorado program was recognized for its success in providing access to solar energy to over 900 low- to moderate-income households, providing meaningful household savings, and for its use of inclusive outreach best practices.
Meaningful Benefit Award Winner
Co-op Solar: Owned by the People
Oregon | Oregon Clean Power Cooperative
This cooperatively owned portfolio of two community solar projects prioritizes community resilience and collective ownership in Garibaldi, Nehalem, and Phoenix, Oregon. The Co-op Solar: Owned by the People portfolio was awarded the Resilience and Grid Benefits Meaningful Benefit Award in recognition of its success in providing resilience benefits to the communities where the projects are located.
Thank you to all teams that applied for the 2023 Sunny Awards. Find more information about the National Community Solar Partnership and how you can support equitable community solar development in the U.S. on the DOE website.
