Bringing Community-Owned Solar Projects to Life
We support frontline communities in developing solar projects through our resource commons of capital, technical assistance, capacity building and shared learning.
We are building the movement for Community-Owned Solar that is centered on BIPOC and low income communities.
We are working to end the extractive economy that puts profit above people.
Eliminating barriers to successful Community-Owned Solar Development.
WHO WE ARE
PSEF was formed by environmental justice and social justice organizations that came together and realized that there was a need for coordinated capital and technical support for communities seeking to develop projects to address the challenges around energy.
Our Story33 Members Developing Community Solar
11 Member Projects Funded
8 Organizational Grants to Members
Our Members get the support they need to develop their solar projects, their way.
our work
Join PSEF for access to solar project funding, technical assistance, our vibrant network of community-based solar developers, & much more.
Become a Member
"PSEF is a game-changer."
“It is a unique opportunity to show not only that low-income and BIPOC communities can own and control our own energy but that we can build a national financial and technical assistance infrastructure for a collective commons around people power and energy democracy."
"PSEF has provided such a welcoming space through the CBSC and MSCL programs."
"PSEF has provided such a welcoming space through the CBSC and MSCL programs to help our organization learn more about community-owned solar and build the capacity to help Tribal communities working to address energy challenges. PSEF has cultivated a supportive and knowledgeable community of people and organizations willing to share their expertise, and it's been very empowering to listen and learn from their stories. PSEF's Intro to Community-Owned Solar curriculum has also helped guide our engagement with Tribal communities and serves as a very easy to understand resource grounded in real-world case studies and experiences."
"Join up - there's tons of resources for every level your organization or community might be at! We're stronger together!
"Prior to PSEF, our biggest needs at Cleveland Owns were technical assistance and funds to help organize our community. We're a small nonprofit in a state with pretty low solar adoption and we needed help seeing if community-owned solar was even possible for a red-state like Ohio! It made us feel alone and overwhelmed. Solar projects are really complex initiatives even without community-ownership. We feel supported by our comrades across the country! We are thrilled to learn what we can and provide our expertise to others. The mini-grants have made a huge difference for us! We have been able to use the mini-grants to help a group of black neighbors in a historically red-lined neighborhood dream big about what a community-owned solar project could mean for them!"
"We would tell anyone interested in community solar development to contact PSEF if they need training, networking & funding.
"Our biggest goal before working with PSEF was to work within Michigan's laws for community solar programs. In the beginning, we were overwhelmed. Today, organizations like Green Door Initiatives working with the City of Detroit, are opening the door for community solar in Southeast Michigan. After working with PSEF, we have grown our network of solar focused like minded organizations & got an intern. Our intern & my fellowship have broadened our ideas on how to approach community solar."
"We are grateful for PSEF’s leadership in this area & the opportunity to learn alongside other community based solar developers.
“Ashland Solar Co-op is seeking to make solar power available to community members who may not otherwise have access. As a PSEF member, we were able to secure affordable general liability and property insurance for our first community solar project through the cooperative purchasing program PSEF created for members in partnership with a national insurance broker."
Support Community-Owned Solar Development for BIPOC and low income communities.
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