U.S. Department of Energy offers more than $450M for Puerto Rican rooftop solar efforts
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) deployed more than $450 million this week as part of a $1 billion move to promote solar and battery storage among Puerto Rico’s most vulnerable residents, build the island’s resilience and lower energy bills.
In all, $453.5 million from the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Fund (PR-ERF) will increase residential rooftop solar PV and battery storage installations throughout the territory, and will include consumer protections and education initiatives meant to bolster long-term use of solar systems among even the most vulnerable. A Solar Ambassador Prize will also be given to community groups to help the DOE connect with eligible households and lower energy costs.
“A future powered by renewables will offer the residents of Puerto Rico more energy security and more reliability—all while leaving households with cheaper bills to pay,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said. “DOE is using every tool at our disposal to expand access to clean energy, especially for the communities most at risk, giving families the peace of mind knowing that their communities are resilient in the face of the climate crisis.
The PR-ERF will incentivize installation of between 30,000-40,000 solar PV and battery storage systems for very low-income single-family households, and areas with frequent and prolonged power outages. Still, potential applicants can come from private industry, non-profit organizations, energy cooperatives, educational institutes and state and local governmental entities. Current applications will be due no later than Sept. 18, 2023. An additional round of funding will follow at a later date.
As to the Solar Ambassador Prize, a competitive funding opportunity, local organizations will be able to identify qualifying households and help them enroll in DOE’s residential solar PV and battery storage installation program by spring 2024. In the end, a total of $3.5 million will be awarded to up to 20 community organizations for outreach and engagement, and selected organizations will receive $15,000 in seed funding and extra compensation. Those applications will need to apply by Sept. 25, 2023.
