Tennessee Solar Institute - Solar Innovation Grant Program

TSI is not currently accepting applications for new grants. This entry is for historical purposes only; the program will reopen if more funding becomes available. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development started the Tennessee Solar Institute in 2009 with a $29 million grant to the University of Tennessee. The Tennessee Solar Institute (TSI) reopened commercial Solar Innovation Grants with $7.25 million of Volunteer State Solar Initiative Solar Opportunity funds for a second application round. The Solar Innovation Grants are available for a variety of purposes within the solar industry, including training programs, lowering the cost of production through process improvements, increasing use of renewable energy and energy efficiency in operations. Applicants can submit up to six grants under the Solar Innovation Grants' requests for proposals. TSI will provide 20% of the requested funds at the time the grant is awarded. The rest will be administered along with project deliverables and reporting documents. After the project is completed and all reports are turned in, TSI will conduct an audit and release the final funds. Projects must comply with Buy American, NEPA, Davis-Bacon Act, and the Tennessee Prevailing Wage Law, and applications must be submitted by 6pm on January 20, 2011. The Tennessee Solar Institute also offers workforce development and technical assistance services, including free NABCEP training courses.