Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000549
Apply for DE FOA 0000549
- The Golden Field Office in the energy sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge to Induce Market Transformation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.117 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach, Training and Technical Analysis/Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 30, 2011 and posted on Jun 1, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 9, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- It is intended to restrict eligibility for this FOA to applicant entities that satisfy the following requirements A) Located in the United States and B) State or territorial governments or C) Local governments or D) Consortia, made up of regional or statewide teams of local governments, large single jurisdictions, or Indian Tribes or E) Non profit or for profit entities authorized to act on behalf of a consortia of state and/or local governments, and F) The total population represented by eligible entities for this FOA must be 500,000 or greater as defined by the 2010 report of the U.S. Census Bureau
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Opportunity Summary:
The SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge to Induce Market Transformation (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000549) is a U.S. Department of Energy grant opportunity run through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Solar Energy Technologies Program, as part of the broader SunShot Initiative. The point of the program is not basic research, but practical, on-the-ground market improvement for rooftop solar photovoltaics across the United States. In plain terms, DOE is trying to cut the non-hardware "soft costs" that make rooftop solar slow, inconsistent, and expensive from place to place by pushing communities and regions to modernize and standardize the rules and processes that govern solar installation.
This particular notice is an amendment to the original Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). It makes two main administrative changes: first, it extends the application deadline to September 9, 2011, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (moving it from the prior closing date of August 31, 2011). Second, it removes references to Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) from specific sections of the FOA (Section IV.C.10 and IV.C.11). The amendment notes that any changed language is highlighted in green in the FOA, and everything else in the announcement remains the same.
Programmatically, the FOA is built around the idea that local and regional policy frameworks heavily influence whether rooftop solar scales smoothly. DOE describes a phased approach organized around four core action areas. The first is permitting and interconnection processes, aiming to streamline local permitting, reduce delays, and make requirements more uniform. The second is net metering and interconnection standards, focusing on clearer, more standardized utility rules so systems can connect to the grid predictably and customers can receive appropriate credit for exported electricity. The third area is financing options, which points to improving access to financing and enabling structures that make projects easier to fund and deploy at scale. The fourth is planning and zoning, which addresses the land-use side of solar adoption by encouraging solar-friendly zoning codes, clearer siting rules, and fewer procedural barriers. DOE is essentially signaling that communities that perform well across all four areas will be positioned to support a strong, self-sustaining rooftop solar market in their region.
In terms of funding and awards, DOE anticipates making cooperative agreements rather than simple grants, meaning recipients should expect active federal involvement and project collaboration during performance. The announcement indicates DOE expects to provide up to $12.5 million total across as many as 25 awardees (as stated in the description). A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants must plan to contribute non-federal resources as part of the total project cost. The opportunity is categorized under the Energy activity area and is associated with CFDA number 81.117 (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach, Training and Technical Analysis/Assistance), which fits the program emphasis on implementation support, process improvement, and market transformation rather than laboratory R&D.
Eligibility is intentionally limited to entities that can influence policy and administrative processes at meaningful scale. Applicants must be located in the United States and must be either state or territorial governments, local governments, or consortia such as regional or statewide teams of local governments, large single jurisdictions, or Indian Tribes. The FOA also allows nonprofit or for-profit entities to apply if they are authorized to act on behalf of an eligible consortium of state and/or local governments. A notable threshold is that the total population represented by the eligible entities must be 500,000 or greater, based on U.S. Census Bureau 2010 population reporting. This population requirement signals DOE is seeking proposals with regional impact, not isolated pilot efforts in very small jurisdictions.
Administratively, applications must be submitted electronically through the EERE eXCHANGE portal (https://eere-exchange.energy.gov). Applicants have to register and create an account in that system before submitting, and DOE points applicants to the EERE eXCHANGE User Guide hosted on the EERE website for step-by-step submission instructions. Questions about the FOA content and application submission are handled as directed in the full FOA, and a named grants and agreements specialist contact is provided for access issues and support (Nicole L. Blackstone, solarchallenge@go.doe.gov). The issuing office listed for this opportunity is the DOE Golden Field Office.
Overall, this Rooftop Solar Challenge is designed to push market-ready change by funding jurisdictions and regional teams that can simplify rooftop solar approval pathways, align standards with utilities, expand workable financing approaches, and remove planning and zoning barriers. The intended outcome is measurable improvement in how quickly, consistently, and affordably rooftop solar can be permitted, financed, interconnected, and deployed across different U.S. regions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the SunShot Initiative Rooftop Solar Challenge to Induce Market Transformation (DE-FOA-0000549)?
It is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funding opportunity under the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Solar Energy Technologies Program, and part of the broader SunShot Initiative. The focus is on practical, on-the-ground market improvements that help rooftop solar photovoltaics scale more smoothly across the United States.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to reduce non-hardware "soft costs" that make rooftop solar slow, inconsistent, and expensive in different places. The program aims to modernize and standardize local and regional rules and processes that affect rooftop solar installation, so projects can be permitted, financed, interconnected, and deployed more quickly and consistently.
Is this opportunity focused on basic research?
No. DOE emphasizes that this is not a basic research program. It is intended for market transformation and implementation work that improves real-world processes and administrative frameworks affecting rooftop solar.
What are the four core action areas DOE wants applicants to address?
DOE describes a phased approach organized around four core action areas:
- Permitting and interconnection processes: Streamlining local permitting, reducing delays, and making requirements more uniform.
- Net metering and interconnection standards: Creating clearer and more standardized utility rules for predictable grid connection and appropriate credit for exported electricity.
- Financing options: Improving access to financing and enabling structures that make projects easier to fund and deploy at scale.
- Planning and zoning: Encouraging solar-friendly zoning codes, clearer siting rules, and fewer procedural barriers.
What kinds of outcomes is DOE trying to achieve through this challenge?
The intended outcome is measurable improvement in how quickly, consistently, and affordably rooftop solar can be permitted, financed, interconnected, and deployed across U.S. regions, with communities better positioned to support a strong, self-sustaining rooftop solar market.
What type of funding instrument will DOE use?
DOE anticipates making cooperative agreements, rather than simple grants. This means recipients should expect active federal involvement and project collaboration during the performance period.
How much funding is available and how many awards are expected?
DOE expects to provide up to $12.5 million total across as many as 25 awardees (as stated in the opportunity description).
Is cost sharing (matching) required?
Yes. A cost sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants must contribute non-federal resources as part of the total project cost.
What is the activity area and CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under the Energy activity area and is associated with CFDA 81.117 (Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Dissemination, Outreach, Training and Technical Analysis/Assistance).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based entities that can influence policy and administrative processes at meaningful scale. Applicants must be located in the United States and must be one of the following:
- State or territorial governments
- Local governments
- Consortia (such as regional or statewide teams of local governments, large single jurisdictions, or Indian Tribes)
Nonprofit or for-profit entities may apply only if they are authorized to act on behalf of an eligible consortium of state and/or local governments.
Is there a minimum population threshold for eligibility?
Yes. The total population represented by the eligible entities must be 500,000 or greater, based on U.S. Census Bureau 2010 population reporting. This requirement indicates DOE is seeking proposals with regional impact rather than isolated pilot efforts in very small jurisdictions.
Does this notice change the technical scope of the original FOA?
No. This notice is an amendment to the original Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and states that, aside from the described administrative changes, everything else remains the same.
What are the administrative changes made by this amendment?
The amendment makes two main administrative changes:
- It extends the application deadline to September 9, 2011, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (from the prior closing date of August 31, 2011).
- It removes references to Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) from specific sections of the FOA (Section IV.C.10 and IV.C.11).
Where can applicants find what text changed in the amended FOA?
The amendment notes that changed language is highlighted in green in the FOA.
When is the application due?
The application deadline is September 9, 2011, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time.
How do applicants submit an application?
Applications must be submitted electronically through the EERE eXCHANGE portal at https://eere-exchange.energy.gov. Applicants must register and create an account in the system prior to submission.
Is there guidance available for using the submission portal?
Yes. DOE points applicants to the EERE eXCHANGE User Guide hosted on the EERE website for step-by-step submission instructions.
Who should applicants contact for portal access issues or submission support?
A grants and agreements specialist contact is provided for access issues and support: Nicole L. Blackstone at solarchallenge@go.doe.gov.
Who is the issuing office for this opportunity?
The issuing office listed for this opportunity is the DOE Golden Field Office.
What is DOE trying to change in rooftop solar markets through this program?
DOE is targeting the local and regional policy frameworks that influence whether rooftop solar scales smoothly, with an emphasis on improving and aligning processes and standards so rooftop solar deployment becomes faster, more predictable, and less costly from one jurisdiction to another.
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