As part of the SunShot Initiative, Energy Secretary Steven Chu has announced $12 million in funding for the awardees of the Rooftop Solar Challenge. The Challenge consists of 22 region teams seeking to enhance solar power development by cutting through the red tape involved with streamlining and standardizing permitting, zoning, connection processes, and metering, as well as improving finance options commercial and residential rooftop solar systems.
The end goal? More accessible, more affordable solar deployment in the U.S.
"Through this competition, the Energy Department is helping to unleash America's solar potential by investing in projects that will make it faster, easier, and cheaper to finance and deploy solar power in communities across the country," says Secretary Chu. "These awards will reduce the cost homeowners and businesses pay to install solar energy systems, while at the same time saving money and time for local governments faced with tight budgets."
The SunShot initiative has lofty goals – reducing the installed cost of solar energy systems by about 75% as one of the major tasks. The teams involved in the Rooftop Solar Challenge will work with city, county, and state officials as well as higher education facilities, private industries, and other regional stakeholders to implement step-by-step action plans.
SunShot Initiative Details Topic Areas
DOE Works to Cut Solar Costs by 75%
DOE’s Solar Energy Solution
