Apply for a Solar Grant
In 2024, PSE is offering $1,250,000 in competitive funding awards to community-based organizations, government agencies and Tribal entities in PSE’s electric service area to install solar at their property. To apply, fill out the Grant Application and Grant Certification forms below by August 14 and submit to psegreenpower@pse.com.
Who should apply?
Eligible applicants are:
- Community-based organizations, government agencies and Tribal entities serving historically marginalized communities
- Applicants who can showcase how savings they receive from the solar array will be used to directly benefit historically marginalized communities
- PSE electric customers
Priority will be given to:
- Applicants serving communities with deepest need. Communities with deepest need experience multiple compounding factors that hinder their ability to access adequate resources. Examples include but are not limited to: communities without housing, communities experiencing linguistic isolation, older adults experiencing social isolation, persons with mental or physical health conditions.
- Tribal entities. PSE has a stated goal to allocate 40% of grant funding to Tribal projects.
- Applicants who have not previously received solar grant funding from PSE.
- Projects that include a workforce development opportunities for historically marginalized community members.
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Important dates
Throughout 2024
June 4: Grant application released
June 12, 12-1 p.m.: Link to recording of June 12 applicant Q&A session
June 19, 12-1 p.m.: Link to recording of June 19 applicant Q&A session
Before July 31: Contact Spark Northwest (grant.support@sparknorthwest.org) for grant writing assistance (optional and space is limited)
August 13: Final day to submit questions to psegreenpower@pse.com
August 14: Applications due by 5 p.m. (PST) to psegreenpower@pse.com
August – October: Applicants participate in grant interview
October – November: Review panel assesses projects and makes final funding decisions
November - December: Notification of award
November – December: Optional application feedback offered to unsuccessful applicants
2025-2026 (depending on project size): Projects completed and commissioned
One year after project completion: Projects completed and commissioned
Grantee will report on how the savings they received from the solar array were used to directly benefit historically marginalized communities -
How much funding is available
PSE has up to $1,250,000 to disburse in the 2024 round. Depending on the size of your solar project, two funding packages are available.
Please see the Information for Applicants for a detailed list of eligible costs.
Funding for Package A is made possible by Green Power and Solar Choice participants who opt to pay extra on their bill to support renewable energy. Funding for Package B is made possible by the Solar Energy Credit program.
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How will applications be evaluated
Once your application is submitted, a partner of PSE will reach out to schedule an interview. The purpose of these interviews is to provide PSE an opportunity to ask any follow up questions and for the applicant to provide more detail to any parts of their application. The interview will be approximately 60 minutes in duration. Then, all applications are discussed at length by a panel of internal PSE staff and member’s of PSE’s Equity Advisory Group (EAG). EAG members are external to PSE and are advocates for historically marginalized community members.
During the review, the panel will consider project feasibility and readiness as pass/fail. As long as a project is likely to be completed as planned, the review panel will select projects based on:
- Community impact (80%): How and to what magnitude will the project positively impact historically marginalized community members? Does the applicant demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion?
- Education and outreach (10%): Will this project utilize unique marketing, education and/or outreach tactics to raise awareness of community-based clean energy within the applicant’s community?
- Workforce development (10%): Does the project provide any workforce development opportunities to low-income and/or historically marginalized community members?
Questions about Solar Grants?
Email psegreenpower@pse.com
and include the subject line: "Solar Grant"