Energy Services will continue the expansion of the Clean Energy for Low- to Moderate- Income Communities Accelerator (CELICA) pilot projects and MI Solarize into a program called MI Solar Access. MI Solar Access will involve an electric utility or nonprofit organization that is willing to implement a community solar array pilot program or energy storage system within a municipal or cooperative electric utility territory, and a small or medium sized business interested in the MI Solarize program. The MI Solar Access Program will potentially increase strategies for energy savings and access to solar energy for communities. This program will support households to move toward energy self-sufficiency and climate resiliency by assisting them with reducing their electricity usage, energy burden, climate preparedness, and access to renewable energy.

Goals:

Supporting households on a path towards energy self-sufficiency and climate resilience by assisting them with reducing their electricity usage, energy burden, climate preparedness and access to renewable energy. 

• Provide low-to-moderate-income communities access to renewable energy,
• Pilot program is municipal or cooperative electric utility territories,
• Onboarding subscribes who cannot afford building solar energy by themselves, and
• Create a locally designed subscription structure that addresses the community needs.

Eligibility requirements: 

Applicants must:

• Be an electric utility or nonprofit organization willing to implement a community solar array pilot program or energy storage system within a municipal or cooperative electric utility territory,
• Experienced nonprofit organization that provides weatherization and willing to participate,
• Interested small or medium sized business in the MI Solarize program, and
• Have an existing community solar array or plan to have an existing array built within the community in the current fiscal year. 

Funding amount: 

A total of $300,000 is expected to be made available for this funding opportunity. An average individual grant award amount will range from $75,000 to $100,000 with a maximum of $100,000.

Eligible expenditure includes contractual services, supplies/materials, and equipment items. EGLE WILL NOT FUND ANY EXPENDITURES THAT HAVE OCCURRED BEFORE A GRANT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN EXECUTED. 

Grant awards will be distributed on a reimbursement basis only, meaning grantees must pay project costs in full prior to receiving funds from EGLE. EGLE will reimburse grantees their award amount once proper invoices, receipts, and proof of payments have been received and reviewed.

Awardee obligations:

• Monthly progress report emailed to program manager.
• Report project impacts, addressing potential energy and cost savings.
• Provide documentation of project expenditures (i.e. invoices and proof of payments).
• Submit payment request within 30 days of completing the project / activity.
• Onsite visit with EGLE staff following project completion.
• One-year follow-up survey on continued impacts of implemented project/activity.

Tentative timeline

Application documents:

• MI Solar Access Request for Proposals 
• Sample Grant Agreement
• Online Application