Write a 100-to-200-word summary of the solar project, including the estimated grant funding required and total project cost.
Call your state's energy commission, local air district, county office and city office. The government section of the telephone book lists these. Ask where to send a letter of inquiry for grants. Send a letter asking for grant funding and the summary of your project to this address.
Search the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiencies online at dsireusa.org. Print out the "Program Overview" for all applicable grants. Contact the program administrator for each grant to obtain the grant guidelines.
Search the grants.gov website via the "Advanced Search" tool to identify potential grants. Print all applicable grant guidelines, referred to as request for proposals.
Search Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE's) grant guidelines at eere.energy.gov and print applicable grant guidelines.
Ask your city's planning commission if there are any ordinances limiting construction or installation of solar power systems.
Ask your homeowner's association board if there are any limitations for installing solar systems, if your project is for a home with a homeowner's association. Some ban or limit roof solar panels due to community aesthetic or other concerns.
Write your first grant proposal exactly according to the grant guidelines. In writing the proposal, ensure that you do not propose anything that would violate applicable city ordinances or homeowner's association regulations--unless you plan to request a waiver.
Send a draft of your proposal to the homeowner's association or city planning commission, if either has ordinances or regulations limiting solar power systems. Ask for a letter stating that the project will meet their applicable regulations or receive a waiver from the regulations. Include this with your grant proposal submission.
Submit the proposal as a draft to the granting agency at least a week prior to the deadline and ask for feedback on the proposal.
Incorporate feedback in the original grant for proposal and submit final grant proposal.
Reorganize the structure of the first final grant proposal to match the structure required by the guidelines for each of the other grants you found, and submit to applicable funders.