The Community Solar Challenge is one of the MTC's two participation bonus programs.

Participation Quota

The Solar Challenge Program's quota is 150 households.

Under the Solar Challenge Program, the town agrees to commit the first $10,000 of its Clean Energy Choice fund to a 2kw photovoltaic system on a public building, and the MTC kicks in a flat bonus of $15,000 to bring the PV project budget up to $25,000. That budget covers the hardware, the engineering, the installation, and an edicational software package that lets students monitor the system's performance via the internet. (If the town's Clean Energy Choice fund doesn't have $10,000 in it yet, the MTC will front the money and trust that the monthly contributions will eventually come in.)

If the town chooses this program, it must send the MTC a letter that declares the town's decision to participate in this program and that designates a person to be the MTC's single point of contact for the project.