Solar Energy Program (SEP)
Forecasted
Solar Energy Program (SEP) supports businesses, nonprofits, and local governments with solar energy projects, equipment manufacturing, and research facilities to advance solar energy use in Pennsylvania.
Funder: Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
Due Dates: Funding-dependent application periods (no set schedule) | At least 60 days before the relevant CFA meeting (submission cutoff)
Funding Amounts: Project grants up to $1 million; loans and guarantees up to $5 million, with project-specific limits
Summary: Grants, loans, and loan guarantees support solar energy projects, equipment manufacturing, and solar research facilities in Pennsylvania.
Key Information: Projects begun before funding approval are ineligible; solar PV grant recipients must transfer lifetime SRECs to the CFA.
Description
The Solar Energy Program supports the generation and use of solar energy and the manufacture or assembly of solar equipment in Pennsylvania. It is administered jointly by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and the Department of Environmental Protection under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). Eligible work includes solar generation, distribution and storage facilities, equipment manufacturing or assembly facilities, and the development or construction of solar technology research and development facilities.
The program supports photovoltaic and solar thermal projects through grants, loans, and guarantees. Manufacturer assistance is tied to job creation. The CFA prefers low-interest loans over grants for solar generation projects whenever possible, and photovoltaic grant awards use cost competition after eligibility screening.
