Report on the Opportunities and Challenges for Small Businesses to Access Solar
We’re pleased to share Advancing Small Business Solar Equity: Final Technical Insights Report. This report was co-authored by Lake Street Council, Great Plains Institute, and William Weber Consulting, with contributions from the Neighborhood Development Center and Northside Economic Opportunities Network.
The Advancing Small Business Solar Equity: Final Technical Insights Report represents the culmination of two years of Lake Street Council’s participation in Round 3 of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Solar Energy Innovation Network (SEIN).
SEIN Round 3, titled “Equitable Solar in Underserved Communities,” supported eight underserved communities across the United States in exploring new approaches to the equitable adoption of solar energy in residential and commercial-scale settings and in confronting the solar barriers they face and unlocking the solar benefits most relevant to their contexts. The team led by Lake Street Council was one of four teams selected to support solar access for commercial entities.
See below for links to the report and the associated appendices, which elaborate on elements of this report in extensive detail.
Final Technical Insights Report
The Final Technical Insights Report captures the key research findings and insights of the Advancing Small Business Solar Equity team. The report is organized into the following sections:
Section 1 introduces the project, including its goals, team members, and the process we used to gather information and reach outcomes.
Section 2 discusses our research process and findings.
Section 3 shares our core proposed program design concept, the Solar Hub Network.
Section 4 lays out an agenda for our team to continue advancing small business solar equity.