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Solar Now! Mini‐Grant FAQ Who is eligible to apply? 1.LocalgovernmentsinOregonorWashingtonthatissuebuildingand/orelectricalpermitsforsolar.
2.Community‐basedNon‐profitpartnersofaneligiblelocalgovernment.Anon‐profitthatchoosesto
applymustshowthattheyhaveastronghistoryofworkingwithlocalgovernmentoncleanenergy
efforts.AnexamplewouldbeSustainableConnectionsandtheirCommunityEnergyChallenge.
Preferenceisgiventoapplicantsthatdemonstrateahistoryoftakingactiontoreducethesoft
costsofinstallingsolar.GrantsareonlyavailableforcommunitiesthatdidnotreceivethisMini‐
Grantsupportin2014.
Can my community group apply? Yes,ifyouarecloselypartneredwithalocalgovernmententityandhaveastronghistoryofworkingwith
localgovernmentoncleanenergyefforts.Tip:Yourapplicationwillbestrongerifyouconvinceyourlocal
governmenttoapplyinpartnershipwithyou.
Do you have any target goals for the amount of solar catalyzed by these mini‐grants? Wewouldexpectthewinningapplicantstoaimfortheequivalentofatleast25newresidentialsolar
installations(approximately125kWtotal.)Thistypicallyrequireseducatingatleast250people.
Can we apply for funding for a community solar project? Thefundscannotbeusedforconstructionofanysolarproject.However,youcanapplyforfundingto
managetheorganization,outreachandlegalfeesassociatedwithdeployingacommunitysolarproject.
Duetotheuncertaintyinthelegislaturesregardingthefutureofcommunitysolarfinancing,applicants
whowishtoproposecommunitysolarareadvisedtocontactWashingtonDepartmentof
Commerce([email protected])beforesubmittinganapplication.
Is there a timeline for completing the project? Theproposedprojectmustbecomplete,includingafinalreportonlessonslearned,byMarch31,2016.
FundingfromtheUSDOERooftopSolarChallengeII(underwhichthesefundsaremadeavailable)ends
onMarch31,2016.Weexpectthatprojectswillbereadytolaunchimmediatelyuponaward,inorderto
becompletebyMarch31,2016.Forinstallationstocounttowardprojectgoals,theinstallationcontracts
mustbesignedbyMarch31,2016.
How will the funds be disbursed? TheselectedapplicantswillsignacontractwiththeWashingtonDepartmentofCommerce,outlininga
seriesofpayments.ThefirstpaymentwillbeawardeduponcompletionofaSolarNow!training
workshop.(InWashington,NorthwestSEEDwilldeliveraworkshophostedbytheawardee.InOregon,
SolarOregonwilldelivertrainingatSolarNow!University,June5.)Subsequentpaymentswillbe
awardeduponattainmentofagreed‐upondeliverables.
[email protected]
NorthwestSolarCommunities
www.nwsolarcommunities.org