We are grateful for the financial contributions of the US Department of Energy, the Pulliam Charitable Trust, US Green Building Council (Arizona), the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota, and others. These funders have supported the Solar Commons Project in Arizona and Minnesota. They helped fund the first Solar Commons prototype interconnected to the grid in Tucson, Arizona in 2018. Their generosity supports the ongoing work of making Solar Commons an iterative community ownership model to capture and equitably share the sun’s common wealth benefits in hot and cold climates in a JUST ENERGY TRANSITION.
US Department of Energy Solar in Your Community Challenge
The Solar Commons Project was a finalist in the Solar In Your Community (SIYC) Challenge, a two-year initiative to support teams innovating community solar models with a focus on serving low-income communities in the United States. SIYC provided trainings and funds for legal and financial analysis research.
Nina Masson Pulliam Charitable Trust
Nina Masson Pulliam Charitable Trust (NMPCT) was our first large funder for the pioneering US Solar Commons in Tucson, Arizona. NMPCT also supports environmental projects throughout Arizona.
University of Phoenix Foundation
University of Phoenix Foundation (UPF) demonstrated corporate and social responsibility as a substantial funder of the research work supporting design and site determination of the Solar Commons Model in its Arizona infancy.
US Green Building Council Arizona
USGBC-Arizona gave the Solar Commons Project one of its most prestigious awards by choosing it as a US Greenbuild Legacy Project for the state of Arizona.
Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota
Institute on the Environment, University of Minnesota (IonE) has been a long-time supporter of Solar Commons Project work in Minnesota through mini-grants that have helped coordinate and move the project from Arizona to Minnesota.
Center for Urban & Regional Affairs, University of Minnesota
Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), University of Minnesota supported feasibility study research for Solar Commons Projects in Minnesota.