Solar for All: North Carolina answers FAQs

This program is spearheaded by four organizations, known as EnergizeNC. EnergizeNC is led by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s State Energy Office and includes North Carolina Advanced Energy, the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center and the North Carolina Clean Energy Fund.   

Frequently Asked Questions  

What is Solar for All?  
Solar for All is a grant opportunity for states, territories, Tribal governments, municipalities and eligible nonprofits to expand the number of low-income and disadvantaged communities that have access to residential and community solar. Solar for All is managed by the EPA and authorized by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund in the Inflation Reduction Act.   

In accordance with EnergizeNC’s second program goal, the program aims to benefit communities and foster environmental justice by lowering utility costs for residents and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using zero-emission technologies.   

How will the program work?    
North Carolina’s Solar for All program aims to reach low-income households in disadvantaged communities across the state providing access to solar power. Households will see an average 20 percent financial savings on their utility bill. During the one-year planning period, the EnergizeNC team will create a comprehensive project management approach with input from low-income disadvantaged communities (goal 1). Within this period, EnergizeNC will also work collaboratively with key stakeholders to determine program development such as launch, community and home selection process, and income requirements.  

Key activities will include:   

• Developing a suite of financial programs to address the variety of community needs  
• Developing a vetted contractor network  
• Establishing a community advisory board to include representation from a broad set of interests, regions and demographics.   
• Working with community organizations for deployment  
• Engaging with affordable housing developers     

What is the timeline for the overall program, including for resident, contractor and stakeholder participation?   
EnergizeNC received the award announcement on April 22, 2024, and plans to kick off a one-year program planning period in October 2024, following EPA’s approval of the revised program plan. While all timelines are subject to change, EnergizeNC anticipates the program will launch statewide in Fall 2025. At that time, the program will begin serving communities and residents and will continue to do so through 2029. As EnergizeNC’s goal 4 states, the program will provide robust community engagement through consistent communication, public meetings and public comment periods to ensure that project benefits flow to disadvantaged communities and individuals. EnergizeNC also plans to engage with contractors and other key stakeholders during the program planning period.   

Will there be job or workforce development opportunities?   
Yes, one of the goals of EnergizeNC is to “foster and develop a trained workforce to deploy solar in all regions of the state, especially in minority and tribal communities, while working to ensure transparent ethical and business practices that protect consumers from potential market abuses” (goal 3). North Carolina will include and request public comment on this topic as part of stakeholder engagement.  

What projects will be eligible to be funded?  
EnergizeNC will support residential rooftop solar installations in eligible single-family homes, multifamily housing owned and operated by nonprofit and public organizations, and residential-serving community solar pilot programs. EPA’s Solar for All guidance also allows up to 20 percent of the funding to be used on enabling upgrades to prepare residences for solar installations.   

What factors will determine eligibility?   
EnergizeNC will provide funding to projects that benefit low-income individuals and families, with a focus on serving disadvantaged and underserved communities. Per EPA’s definition, low-income and disadvantaged communities include Climate and Economic Justice Screen Tool (CEJST)-identified disadvantaged communities, EJScreen-identified disadvantaged communities, geographically dispersed low-income households and properties providing affordable housing. For more information on this, please visit EPA's Inflation Reduction Act Disadvantaged Communities Map.   

EnergizeNC will also provide technical assistance to communities, small businesses, non-profit organizations and other stakeholders to help enable low-income and disadvantaged communities to deploy and benefit from residential solar and residential-serving community solar.