The primary purpose of grants funded under this solicitation must be to increase the deployment of solar and battery storage systems in community buildings in Washington to enhance grid resilience and provide backup power for critical needs.

Grants funded under this solicitation will be evaluated under two parallel tracks. Each track has its own application questions and required attachments, so please select the track that best describes your project’s activities.

Track 1: Planning and Predevelopment is available for projects that:

• Identify sites suitable for solar and battery storage equipment
• Complete community outreach and engagement to identify community needs and preferences for backup power provided by solar and battery storage
• Complete feasibility studies, cost estimates, specifications, or other design work

Examples of eligible, reimbursable expenditures for Track 1 include:

• Personnel costs for project management, outreach and planning activities
• Direct expenses for outreach and engagement, such as printing costs, facility rentals, supplies, refreshments, etc.
• Stipends for community advisors
• Permit and interconnection application fees
• Grant proposal development
• Fees for project design work and feasibility analysis

Track 2: Installation is available for projects that complete the installation of solar and battery storage systems including:

• Final design
• Purchase and installation of equipment
• Commissioning, development of operational plans, and workforce training for maintenance and operation of equipment
• Community outreach to increase the awareness of a facility funded under this grant

Examples of eligible, reimbursable expenditures for Track 2 include:

• Solar and battery technology and construction materials
• Electrical connectivity, inverters, control systems, etc.
• Critical loads panels, transformer upgrades, and other necessary electrical changes identified at the time of application
• Permitting and interconnection fees that haven’t been incurred at time of award
• Personnel costs for permitting, project management, and procurement of services necessary to the completion of project objectives
• Personnel costs for site design, preparation, installation, and commissioning.

For information about project qualification, see Page 6 of the RFP document listed in Supporting Documents, below.