Municipal Solar Grant Program

A federally funded, competitive grant program to fund small solar PV systems to benefit New Hampshire municipalities.

Municipal Solar Grant Program History:

The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) resulted in a $550 million appropriation into the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. This program, overseen by the US Department of Energy, provides formula grants to states, local governments, and Indian tribes to implement strategies to reduce energy use, to reduce fossil fuel emissions, and to improve energy efficiency.

Under this program, the NH Department of Energy (NHDOE) will receive a $1.6 million formula grant. The NHDOE will use this funding to develop the Municipal Solar Grant Program, a competitive grant program that provides funding for municipal solar projects whose total installed capacity does not exceed 60 kW DC. These projects will have the dual benefit of lowering municipal energy expenses and providing a direct financial benefit to municipal budgets and local property taxpayers. The program will prioritize “disadvantaged municipalities” that directly own their solar systems for funding in light of the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative.

Stakeholder Session #1 was held on July 12, 2023.

Stakeholder Session #2 was held on July 26, 2023.

The Department then applied for this EECBG formula grant in September 2023 and was approved by USODE on May 3, 2024. Funding is now pending New Hampshire’s approval process to accept and expend through the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee and Governor and Executive Council.

2024 Program Details:

The total funding amount available under this RFP is $1,480,000:

A total of $1,000,000 will be reserved for Tier 1 grants.
The maximum Tier 1 grant request is $200,000.
A total of $480,000 will be reserved for Tier 2 grants.
The maximum Tier 2 grant request is $120,000.

Projects must be completed no later than 24 months after approval of a grant agreement by the Governor and Executive Council. Electronic proposals must be received by the Department no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) EST on August 1, 2024.

Proposals that seek funding for expansions or replacements of existing solar electricity/photovoltaic systems or for installed or operational facilities are not eligible for this Municipal Solar Grant Program.