Page last updated on October 14, 2025 at 11:06 am
About the 2025 Solar, Energy Efficiency, & Lighting (SEEL) Program
The 2025 SEEL program provides grant funding and technical assistance for nonprofits, community organizations, and small businesses to improve building efficiency and install solar panels or battery storage. This program progresses the City of Bloomington’s goals to increase renewable energy sources, decrease CO2 emissions from fossil fuel consumption, and support local organizations across the community.
Eligible projects for funding under the 2025 SEEL program include three project types: energy efficiency, solar and/or battery. Solar and battery grants provide $25,000 to sponsor a solar photovoltaic (PV) panel system installation, $20,000 to sponsor a battery energy storage system (for non-profits only), or a combined $45,000 solar and battery installation (for non-profits only). Solar and battery installations are performed by the City’s SEEL program partner, Solar Energy Solutions. Energy efficiency grants provide $10,000 to reimburse upgrades that reduce energy demand, such as energy efficient HVAC equipment or building weatherization. An approved application is required before beginning any project.
View the SEEL Grant Map to see past grant recipients and the locations of every SEEL grant installation.
Eligible Organizations
- Nonprofits: tax exempt (501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6)) organizations are eligible for the program. Employee benefit associations, social welfare organizations, and business leagues are also eligible.
- Schools: schools must be categorized as tax-exempt charitable organizations.
- Early Childhood Centers: child care centers or early education centers must be categorized as nonprofit organizations.
- Libraries: libraries must be categorized as tax-exempt.
- Healthcare facilities: healthcare facilities must be categorized as nonprofit organizations.
- Grocery stores: grocery stores must be categorized as nonprofit organizations.
- Businesses: small businesses are defined as those having less than 500 full-time employees.
- Multifamily complexes: multifamily residential units with at least two apartments, owned by organizations that meet the criteria of a small business or nonprofit, and permanently house low income residents (<80% Area Median Income).
Eligible organizations must also meet the following criteria:
- The facility must be located within Bloomington city limits. Check if you are located in City limits by visiting bloomington.in.gov/mybloomington and enter the address of the building.
- LEASED FACILITIES: If you lease the building you are applying for, you will be required to have the facility owner/property management company complete a Building Owner Disclosure Form and Agreement. Qualification will be determined based on the owner of the facility.
- Buildings on private homesites or single-family residential property are not eligible. The SEEL grant is intended for commercial, office, retail, industrial, community centers, or other public-facing facilities where a nonprofit or small business operates. Low-income multifamily housing sites are eligible.
- Have at least one part or full time staff member serve as the program point of contact.
- An authorized employee or organization member must communicate with the City throughout the grant process. Additional contacts may be included in communication.
- Organizations that have previously participated in the SEEL program must wait 12 months from receiving their last grant before applying again.
- SEEL applicants are eligible for either the solar/battery or the energy efficiency grant, but not both simultaneously. Non-profit entities may combine the solar and battery into one installation.
- Organizations located in a local historic district planning to alter the exterior of their building (e.g. install solar panels) must review their project with the City of Bloomington Historic Preservation Program Manager Noah Sandweiss ([email protected]) and receive confirmation to proceed BEFORE applying for SEEL. Some historic districts have restrictions on facade changes and may require a Certificate of Appropriateness. If you are unsure about your organization's historic designation, search your address at bloomington.in.gov/mybloomington
Application Process
The SEEL 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 organization 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 facility’s energy usage, project logistics, and justification for grant funding. For more details on the grant process, please view the project-specific webpages linked below.
Solar and Battery Projects: Applications for solar and/or battery projects are open and will be accepted on a rolling basis until all funding for the 2025 program year has been allocated or December 1, 2025, whichever comes first.
Energy Efficiency Projects: Applications for energy efficiency projects are no longer accepted in 2025 due to a high volume of applicants. All grants have been allocated for 2025. The application will reopen in 2026.
To contact the SEEL program coordinator with questions, please email [email protected].