ClimateSmart Solar Grant program


Program Type Local grant program
Technologies Solar water heat, photovoltaic (solar energy)
Amount Unlimited, but typically less than 50 percent of your out-of-pocket costs
Required Documentation Online or mail-in application
Official Web Site http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7700&Itemid=2845
The ClimateSmart Solar Grant Program offers financial help for low- and moderate-income residents of the city of Boulder who want to go solar. The grant tends to cover up to 50 percent of the cost of your solar system after tax rebates and incentives. The size of the grant depends on the size of the system you want installed as well as the funds available at the time of application, but grants have ranged from $1,600 to $18,000 in recent years.

In order to be eligible to apply for this grant, you must live in Boulder’s low-income housing. You must not intend to make any sort of profit from the solar system, including selling power to your utility company or installing systems which are financed by a power purchase agreement with your utility company. Take this into consideration when you decide how you would like to fund your new solar system. It might be more economical to accept funding from the utility company depending on a number of factors. To determine which rebates and incentives would benefit you the most, speak with an installer.

The grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Additional factors that are taken into consideration are the energy efficiency of your home (assessed by either an energy audit or, if it’s a new home, the energy rating), a demonstrated interest in investing in a more energy-efficient home, and the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the proposed solar system. Applications will be reviewed biannually (deadlines are March 15 and August 15), and recipients will be notified in about 45 days of their acceptance.