The eligibility requirements for the Solar for All program depend on the specific aspect of the program, as it operates in different states and under different frameworks, but key general criteria include:
For individuals and households:
- Households must have incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). This threshold identifies low-income communities targeted by the program.
- Households should reside in low-income and disadvantaged communities (LIDAC) as defined by tools such as the White House’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) or the EPA’s EJScreen mapping tools.
- Eligible households may also include residents of affordable housing properties.
For applicants applying for awards or funding under the Solar for All competition (such as from the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund):
- Eligible applicants include states, territories, tribal governments, municipalities, and certain eligible nonprofit organizations.
- States and territories include all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Mariana Islands.
- Municipalities cover public bodies like cities, towns, boroughs, counties, parishes, districts, or councils of governments (COGs).
- Tribal governments are federally recognized tribes, including Alaska Native villages and intertribal consortia that meet specific regulatory requirements.
- Eligible nonprofit recipients must be non-profit organizations focused on providing capital or financial assistance to deploy low- and zero-emission technologies, funded by public or charitable contributions, and not engaged in deposit-taking outside of repayments from grants.
- Both individual applicants and coalitions may apply for awards, with specific eligibility varying by award type.
These eligibility criteria ensure that Solar for All targets assistance to low-income households and disadvantaged communities while enabling various governmental and nonprofit entities to deliver programs.
Note that individual Solar for All program offerings (such as those in Massachusetts) may impose additional or specific eligibility rules and may require income verification or define eligibility by housing type (single-family, multi-family, community solar).
In summary:
| Eligibility Category | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Households/Individuals | Income ≤ 80% AMI; reside in disadvantaged communities identified by CEJST or EJScreen; affordable housing residents |
| States/Territories | All US states, DC, territories (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands) |
| Municipalities | Local public bodies under state law (cities, towns, counties, COGs) |
| Tribal Governments | Federally recognized tribes, Alaska Native villages, intertribal consortia meeting EPA criteria |
| Eligible Nonprofits | Non-profits providing capital/financial assistance for solar, funded by public or charitable sources, non-deposit taking |
This framework allows for broad participation by governmental and nonprofit applicants, aimed at expanding solar access for low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/what-are-the-eligibility-requirements-for-the-solar-for-all-program/
