REST Grant Administration Guidelines

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The SSVEC REST Grant Program is intended to expand access to renewable energy technologies and related infrastructure throughout the Cooperative’s service territory, with a particular emphasis on projects serving low-to-moderate income populations, critical community facilities, and underserved areas.

Program objectives include:

1. Increasing deployment of renewable energy resources within SSVEC’s service territory 
2. Reducing long-term energy costs for participating organizations and communities 
3. Enhancing community resilience through distributed energy resources and battery storage 
4. Supporting economic development and local investment 
5. Encouraging equitable access to renewable energy opportunities 
6. Advancing environmental sustainability and energy reliability

SSVEC proposes to allocate approximately $2.5 million in REST funds toward renewable energy grant awards under this Plan.

Grant awards may fully or partially fund eligible projects depending upon project scope, available funding, demonstrated need, and anticipated community benefit at committee’s discretion.

Administrative costs associated with program management, evaluation, compliance oversight, and reporting shall be minimized to maximize direct member and community benefit.

Eligible applicants shall include commercial members of SSVEC in good standing for a minimum of five (5) consecutive years, including:

• Non for profit organizations with high member impact 
• Municipalities
• Towns 
• Fire districts
• Educational institutions
• Public service organizations 

Applicants must demonstrate that proposed projects provide measurable public or community benefit.

Eligible renewable energy projects may include, but are not limited to:

• Rooftop solar photovoltaic systems
• Solar and battery storage systems
• Renewable energy systems serving critical facilities
• Single-load commercial or industrial renewable energy applications
• Other renewable energy technologies approved by SSVEC consistent with REST program objectives

Projects must be located within SSVEC’s service territory and interconnected in compliance with applicable Cooperative requirements and standards. Projects may include new initiatives, meaningful expansions of existing systems, or qualifying projects initiated on or after March 10, 2026, following Arizona Corporation Commission Decision No. 81672 approving the REST program, provided all other program requirements are met. Projects completed prior to grant application approval shall not be eligible unless specifically authorized by the Renewable Energy Grant Committee. The Renewable Energy Grant Committee reserves the right to determine eligibility for projects initiated prior to application approval. 

SSVEC staff shall administer the REST Grant Program and oversee all aspects of program implementation, including application intake, applicant communications, evaluation coordination, grant documentation, compliance monitoring, and reporting.

The Cooperative shall establish a Grant Review Committee consisting of SSVEC representatives and community stakeholders reasonably representative of the Cooperative’s service territory.

Committee members shall evaluate applications using standardized scoring criteria established under this Plan. Committee members shall disclose any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from evaluation of any application where a conflict may exist.

SSVEC shall maintain all records associated with the program, including applications, scoring documentation, award determinations, funding agreements, reporting materials, and compliance records, in accordance with applicable record retention requirements.

Grant recipients shall execute grant agreements specifying project scope, timelines, reporting obligations, allowable uses of funds, and project completion requirements.

SSVEC shall administer the program through a competitive Request for Proposals (“RFP”) process.

The Cooperative shall publicly announce funding availability through the SSVEC website, member communications, social media, and other appropriate outreach methods.

The RFP shall include:

• Program purpose and objectives      
• Eligibility requirements
• Application instructions
• Funding availability
• Eligible project types
• Evaluation criteria
• Submission deadlines
• Reporting requirements
• Contact information for applicant assistance. 

SSVEC may conduct informational workshops, webinars, or outreach meetings to assist potential applicants with program participation and application requirements.

Applicants shall submit completed applications including, at minimum:

1. Organizational background and mission
2. Detailed project description and scope
3. Community impact statement 
4. Project budget and funding request 
5. Evidence of site control or project authorization 
6. Three (3) contractor quotes from appropriately licensed or registered contractors
7. Maintenance and sustainability plan
8. Estimated renewable energy production or savings 
9. Letters of support or partnership agreements, if applicable 
10. Proposed project implementation timeline

Incomplete applications may be rejected or returned for clarification at SSVEC’s discretion.

Applications shall be evaluated using a standardized scoring rubric based upon the following weighted criteria:

Evaluation Category                     Weight

Community Impact                            35%

Project Feasibility                               20%

Environmental Impact                      15%

Maintenance & Sustainability        15%

Financial Need &                                  15%

Funding Leverage

Additional consideration may be given to projects that:

• Serve low-to-moderate income communities
• Provide benefits to critical facilities 
• Demonstrate measurable energy savings 
• Serve a high number of SSVEC members 
• Support economic development 
• Improve geographic distribution of renewable energy resources throughout the service territory 

Projects shall be evaluated for cost-effectiveness and anticipated long-term member or community benefit.

SSVEC reserves the right to partially fund projects or prioritize projects based on available funding and overall program objectives.

Award recipients shall complete funded projects within timelines established in grant agreements, generally ranging from six (6) to twelve (12) months following award approval.

Recipients shall provide periodic progress reports and final project documentation, including proof of project completion and operational status.

SSVEC may conduct inspections, request supporting documentation, or require verification of installed renewable energy systems and associated project expenditures. Award recipients must agree to be featured in various media.

Failure to comply with grant requirements may result in suspension, modification, or recovery of awarded funds.

SSVEC shall conduct periodic evaluations of the REST Grant Program to assess program effectiveness and alignment with identified program goals and objectives.

Program evaluation metrics may include, but are not limited to:

Program Inputs

• REST funding allocated
• Administrative resources utilized
• Contractor participation
• Community partnerships established
• Renewable energy equipment deployed 

Program Outputs

• Number of applications received 
• Number of grants awarded
• Total dollars distributed
• Installed renewable energy capacity
• Number of members or organizations served
• Estimated renewable energy generation or energy savings achieved 

Program Outcomes

• Reduction in participant energy costs
• Increased renewable energy adoption 
• Enhanced energy resilience for critical facilities
• Economic and community development impacts 
• Environmental benefits 
• Improved access to renewable energy resources 

SSVEC may utilize utility consumption data, project production estimates, installer documentation, participant reporting, or other reasonable verification methods to evaluate project performance and program effectiveness.

To the extent sufficient participation and reliable data are available, SSVEC may conduct comparative statistical analyses, including bi-variate or multivariate regression analysis, to evaluate relationships between grant investments, renewable energy production, energy savings, participant characteristics, and program outcomes over time.

SSVEC shall maintain records and prepare program summaries or reports as may be required by the Arizona Corporation Commission or applicable REST program requirements.

Program reporting may include:

• Awarded projects 
• Funding distributions 
• Program participation levels 
• Estimated renewable energy impacts 
• Program evaluation findings 
• Recommendations for future program improvements 

The anticipated program schedule is as follows:

Program Activity                                                  Estimated Timeline

Promotion / Interest                                                          3 Months

Application Submission Period                                    3 Months

Application Review & Evaluation                                 3 Months

Award Notification & Contracting                               1 Month

Project Implementation                                                  6–12 Months

Program Evaluation & Reporting                                Ongoing

Additional funding rounds may be conducted if REST funds remain available.

SSVEC respectfully submits this Plan of Administration for approval and believes the proposed REST Grant Program provides a transparent, equitable, and accountable framework for deployment of renewable energy investments that directly benefit members and communities throughout the Cooperative’s service territory.

The proposed program balances renewable energy development, community resilience, responsible stewardship of REST funds, and measurable member benefit consistent with the objectives of Arizona’s Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff requirements.