Mayor Kerry Thomson

Page last updated on September 15, 2026 at 5:10 pm

A house with solar panels on the roof, a sun behind the panels, and a plant next to the house.

Program Launch Date: September 28, 2026

The Solar Grants for Income-Qualified Homeowners program provides grant funding to income-qualified, single-family homeowners for solar system installations. This program progresses the City of Bloomington’s goals to increase renewable energy sources, decrease greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel consumption, and increase housing affordability across the community. 

The grant program will fund 100% of the cost of a 5 kW solar system for qualified applicants. An approved application is required before beginning installation of any project. 

Eligibility Requirements

The home must be located within Bloomington city limits. Check if you are located in City limits by visiting MyBloomington and enter the address of the home.

  • The home must be a single-family home only. Multi-family units or duplexes are not eligible.
  • The total household income is less than 80% of the Area Median Income as determined by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
  • The home must be owned by the applicant.
  • The home must be occupied by the applicant.
  • The home’s roof must be structurally sound and not in need of any repairs or replacement prior to installation of a solar system.
  • Homes located in a local historic district must apply for a Certificate of Appropriateness (or COA) after acceptance into the solar grant program. Applying for the COA requires submission of the solar design proposal from MPI Solar. Applicants may not move forward with the solar installation until an approved COA is provided to the solar grant program manager. If you are unsure about your home's historic designation, search your address using MyBloomington or use the Historic Preservation Resources Map. Contact City of Bloomington Historic Preservation Program Manager Noah Sandweiss ([email protected]) with any questions before applying for the solar grant.

 

Solar Installations

  • The Solar Grants for Income-Qualified Homeowners Program will fund a 5 kW solar panel installation for each qualifying home. The grant will cover the entire cost of solar panels, inverters, equipment, and labor for exactly 5kW of solar capacity.
  • The minimum solar system installed through the grant program is 5kW. Installing a solar system larger than 5kW is allowed only if the applicant wishes to pay out of pocket for any costs beyond the baseline cost of a 5kW solar system. 
    • Oversized systems that are projected to send electricity back to the grid will not be awarded a grant (except in cases where the applicant is funding additional solar capacity out of pocket, or the applicant is paying out of pocket for a battery to capture the excess generation). This is likely at homes with energy consumption below 6,000 kWh per year.

 

Application Process

The solar grant application is a two-part process. First, submit an eligibility check form. The purpose of the first stage of the application is to review basic information about your household to see if you meet the program requirements, described above. If you are confirmed eligible, you will be sent a link to the second part of the application. The purpose of the second stage of the application is to gather information on your home’s energy usage, project logistics, and justification for grant funding. Your application is not complete until you submit both forms. Receiving eligibility confirmation does not mean you have been accepted into the program. The solar grant program is first-come, first-served so please complete both forms promptly to ensure a timely application.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all program funding has been allocated. 

  1. Accepted applicants will be connected with the contractor program partner, MPI Solar, to schedule the site assessment visit.
  2. MPI Solar will produce a project proposal and the City will review it for alignment with grant funding goals. Then, MPI Solar will send you an installation contract for you to sign.
  3. MPI Solar will proceed with the project installation and utility interconnection arrangements.
  4. MPI Solar will invoice the City for the cost of the installation. If you opt in for an installation larger than the grant size, you will be responsible for paying the additional cost. 

 

What to expect during the solar installation process with MPI Solar 

Information gathering and site visit: After the City sends your approved application information to MPI Solar, MPI Solar will contact you for a site visit and gather details about your home. They will evaluate annual energy usage from the utility bill provided in the grant application and review satellite imagery of your home. During the site visit, MPI Solar will need access to the roof and the attic or internal roof structure, electrical equipment, internet equipment, and utility connections to the home. 

  1. Proposal development and contract: MPI Solar uses design tools to evaluate sun exposure, shading, roof orientation, and local utility rate information to develop a proposal. MPI Solar will send a digital proposal and contract to sign.
  2. Engineering and design: Once the contract is signed, the engineering team at MPI Solar will design the detailed system layout. 
  3. Permitting and procurement: MPI Solar will prepare documentation for your solar installation county permit and a utility interconnection agreement with Duke Energy. MPI Solar will schedule your install to hold your place in their queue.
  4. Installation and inspection: The MPI Solar project manager will confirm your installation date a few weeks before it occurs. After installation, MPI Solar will inspect the system and notify Duke Energy to schedule the electric meter replacement.

 

The Solar Grants for Income-Qualified Homeowners program offers a small solar array installation at no cost to the grant recipient. Grantees should consider the long-term costs of owning a solar system: solar panel removal and reinstallation during a roof replacement, and a possible increase in property value. All products offered by MPI Solar through the grant program have long-term warranties, including a minimum 25-year warranty for module power production. MPI Solar guarantees workmanship through a 5-year warranty for residential installs.

 

To contact the Solar Grants for Income-Qualified Homeowners program coordinator with questions, please email [email protected].

 

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