The Sunny Awards are back with even more cash prizes than last year—totaling $200,000! These awards continue to celebrate portfolios and programs that increase access to the benefits of community solar.

This year, the Sunny Awards offer the following prizes: 

  • Up to 30 Finalist Awards at $2,500 each
  • Up to 15 Meaningful Benefits Awards at $5,000 each
  • Up to 5 Grand Prize Awards at $10,000 each

Competitors nominate a portfolio (of 1-5 community solar projects) or state-, tribal-, territory-, municipal- or utility-run program that demonstrates replicable and scalable best practices in providing meaningful benefits to community solar subscribers and their communities. 

Can past Sunny Award applicants compete?

Projects or state or utility programs that have received a finalist award but have not received a Grand Prize or Meaningful Benefit Special Recognition Award in prior years of the Sunny Awards are eligible for the 2023 Sunny Awards.

However, projects or state/utility programs that have received a Grand Prize in prior years of the Sunny Awards are not eligible for additional prizes of any kind. Projects or state/ utility programs that have received a Meaningful Benefits Special Recognition Award in prior Sunny Awards are only eligible for Finalist and Grand Prize awards (will not be eligible for a second Meaningful Benefit Award). 

Submissions due by July 14 at 5 p.m. ET

Competitors must submit a cover page, narrative, and supporting evidence for each Meaningful Benefit category they would like to be considered for, and a single-slide project summary through HeroX.

For more information, follow the 2023 Sunny Awards HeroX page and join an informational webinar on May 9 at 12 p.m. ET. We hope to see you there!