Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $100,000 per solar project and will fund 100 percent of the design, installation, permitting and equipment costs of grid-connected solar photovoltaics systems only. Green Power Solar Grant funds may also be used, in an amount not to exceed $1,000, for efforts to raise awareness about the benefits of solar within the recipients’ community.

Grants will not fund structural or site improvements, fees for project estimates or bids, site evaluation, landscaping, future maintenance or repair, engineering expenses incurred prior to project funding, construction bond costs, equipment used to display solar production, and donated, in-kind or volunteer materials or labor.

For more funding information, please see the Information for Applicants document.

The project site must be located in PSE’s electric service area.

The applicant must be a non-profit (501(c)(3)), public housing authority or tribal entity serving low-income and/or Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) community members. Religiously affiliated organizations providing vital support services to the aforementioned community members are eligible.

The project site must be owned by the applicant or leased with a minimum five-year lease remaining. If the property is leased, the applicant must have approval from the site owner.

The funding request must be for $100,000 or less.

The total solar resource fraction must be at least a 75 percent average of all points in the proposed solar array.

PSE will evaluate proposed projects on four areas:

• Community impact: How and to what magnitude will the project positively impact low-income and/or BIPOC community members?
• Awareness and recognition: Will the project raise awareness of community-based renewable energy?
• Project feasibility and readiness: Is the project likely to be completed as planned and provide the stated benefits over the life of the equipment?
• Budget: Is the project cost-effective and likely to be completed within budget?

Please note:

• Being a past grant recipient does not disqualify an applicant. However, if PSE receives a large number of applications, it may consider an award received in the previous round as an evaluation factor.
• Projects that include expansion of a current system are eligible to apply. However, please note that PSE will give preference to new solar projects at locations where a solar project did not or does not currently exist.