In September 2023, we launched our Communities of Color Building Solar Capacity (CBSC) program, an initiative that aims to advance environmental, economic, and community resilience while mobilizing communities of color toward solar development. In this first year of CBSC, we brought together 12 community-based organizations (CBOs) across 10 states, with about half of the participants being PSEF members or affiliates. Among our CBOs are community development corporations, solar developers, environmental justice advocates, law groups, and faith-based organizations – all of which are represented by and serve communities of color.
Thus far, we have successfully aided approximately 50% of our participant organizations in engaging their communities in community-owned solar education events, with attendance ranging from 40 to 200 people (depending on location), with the remaining participants preparing to launch their community education programs in the near future. Their efforts in community education have been supported by the development of PSEF’s “Introduction to Community-Owned Solar” curriculum, for which a 101 Course consisting of three modules has been created.
Throughout the year, we’ve refined CBSC and its processes, making it a priority to remain responsive to the feedback of our participants and staff, and to the diverse strengths and challenges faced by frontline communities of color. This feedback inspired the creation of focus groups and fostered strong inter-program support networks between CBSC, SLIC, and MSCL. And with 5 (later 6) member groups participating in the CBSC program, we are very glad to say that CBSC and the capacity-building programs at large have proved to be a useful tool for PSEF’s membership.
We are now preparing our current CBSC cohort for their graduation from the program and will be guiding participants toward project pre-development exploration. Our CBOs have exciting plans for the future, and we look forward to supporting their efforts to bring solar to their communities.
Want to know more about our capacity-building programs? Check out our programs page for more information about CBSC, SLIC, and MSCL! Applications for all programs are open and accepting submissions until August 2nd, 2024.