Funding the Shift for Solar Lighting
Florida’s municipalities, counties, schools, and developers are under growing pressure to modernize infrastructure while carefully managing budgets. Streetlights, pathways, and public spaces require dependable illumination, yet traditional grid-tied systems bring high installation costs, ongoing utility bills, and significant vulnerability to storm damage.
Grant and financing programs provide a strategic solution. By leveraging available state and federal funding, Florida communities can deploy off-grid solar lighting that delivers safe, resilient, and cost-effective illumination, performing reliably in all weather conditions. This guide highlights the leading solar lighting grant opportunities available in Florida and outlines a step-by-step approach to the application process, equipping organizations to advance projects with confidence and efficiency.
Step 1 – Choose the Right Grant Program
Not every program fits every project. Matching your goals to the right grant is the first step toward success.
Resilient Florida Program (FDEP)
- Supports projects that strengthen infrastructure against flooding, sea-level rise, and hurricanes. Solar lighting for evacuation routes, coastal corridors, and public spaces qualifies as an eligible resilience measure.
FDOT Resilience Planning & Policy Program
- Funds transportation projects that improve storm resilience, including lighting for highways, intersections, and evacuation routes.
Solar for All (EPA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund)
- A $7 billion federal program supporting solar adoption in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Local governments, nonprofits, and community organizations can apply for funding to expand access to solar energy, including resilient public infrastructure like street and pathway lighting.
Florida Solar for All (Low-Income Solar Grants)
- Launching in 2025, this statewide program will fund solar projects that increase access to clean energy for low-income and underserved communities. Municipalities and housing authorities may use these grants to incorporate solar lighting into community safety and resilience initiatives.
Florida Municipal Utility Rebates (Beaches Energy, FPUC)
- Beaches Energy provides commercial and municipal customers with rebate opportunities that lower the cost of solar and energy-efficiency upgrades. For cities and developers in Northeast Florida, pairing Fonroche solar lighting with Beaches Energy rebates reduces project capital costs while delivering long-term resilience.
- Florida Public Utilities Company (FPUC) offers commercial rebate programs designed to improve efficiency and reduce energy demand. Municipalities, school districts, and private developers can apply these rebates to solar lighting projects, cutting installation expenses and ensuring faster ROI.
EECBG (Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grants):
- The U.S. DOE’s EECBG program provides funding for local governments to implement energy efficiency and renewable projects, including solar lighting. In Florida, counties can apply directly through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (Florida Association of Counties).
Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR)
- HUD-funded, state-administered disaster recovery dollars that can cover resilient community infrastructure in declared-disaster areas. Eligible uses include off-grid solar lighting for evacuation routes, public facilities, parks/trails, and neighbourhood safety improvements in impacted/most-impacted areas. Strong fit was lighting supports recovery, mitigation, and LMI benefits.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
- FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance program funding for pre-disaster, risk-reduction projects. Solar street and pathway lighting that reduces outage risk in critical corridors (evacuation routes, public safety sites, shelters, campuses) can qualify when tied to hazard mitigation objectives and a positive Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA).
Tip:
Always review eligibility carefully. Cities, schools, HOAs, and developers each fall under different funding tracks, and aligning the right project with the right grant greatly increases your chances of success.
Step 2 – Collect Your Project Information
Every strong application requires clear, well-documented project details. Funders want evidence that your project is practical, impactful, and financially sound. Make sure you prepare:
Project Description
- Define the location, safety needs, and specific goals. Examples include storm-resilient evacuation routes, safer school bus stops, or reducing long-term lighting costs.
Budget & Savings
- Provide detailed equipment costs and highlight avoided expenses such as trenching, wiring, and utility bills. Emphasize lifetime savings from zero energy costs.
Community Impact
- Show measurable benefits such as reduced nighttime accidents, improved walkability, or reliable visibility during outages. Demonstrating real safety and resilience outcomes strengthens your case.
Match Funding
- Many Florida programs, such as the Resilient Florida Program, require a 10–20% local cost share. Plan your matching funds early to avoid delays in approval.
Tip:
- The more specific and measurable your project information, the stronger your application will be. Funders look for projects that are both technically feasible and community-driven.
Step 3 – Complete the Application
Each funding program has its own submission channel. Following the correct path avoids delays and ensures your project is reviewed on time:
Resilient Florida Program (FDEP)
- Apply through the official FDEP Resilient Florida portal during the annual cycle (typically summer/fall). Applications should demonstrate how the project strengthens resilience against flooding, sea-level rise, or hurricanes, with eligible uses including evacuation routes, coastal corridors, and public facilities.
FDOT Resilience Program
- Submit projects through your local MPO or FDOT district office as part of the state’s transportation resilience planning cycle. Eligible proposals typically include roadway, intersection, and evacuation-route improvements that enhance storm readiness and public safety.
Solar for All (EPA GGRF)
- Applications are submitted through the EPA’s official portal or designated state partners. Eligible projects must serve low-income or disadvantaged communities and demonstrate measurable benefits such as expanded solar access, lower energy burdens, or improved community resilience.
Florida Solar for All (2025 Launch)
- Applications will be administered by state agencies such as the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Municipalities, housing authorities, and community organizations should monitor official state announcements for program opening dates, eligibility criteria, and submission guidelines.
Utility Rebates
- Developers, municipalities, and businesses can apply directly to utility providers such as Beaches Energy or Florida Public Utilities (FPUC) for rebate incentives. These programs typically cover a portion of the upfront cost of solar lighting systems, reducing capital expenses and improving project ROI. Rebates are applied post-installation upon verification of eligible equipment, making them one of the fastest ways to secure cost relief.
EECBG Program
- When funding rounds are active, eligible cities and counties can apply through either the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) or Florida’s State Energy Office. The program is designed to help local governments implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, with solar lighting upgrades often qualifying. Applicants should monitor program announcements closely, as cycles are competitive and require the timely submission of documentation.
CDBG-DR (HUD → State Admin)
- Apply through Florida’s CDBG-DR administering agency (e.g., Florida Commerce/DEO) during announced cycles. Projects must be in eligible disaster-impact areas, align with the Action Plan, and document unmet recovery needs and LMI/public benefit. Include site scope, cost reasonableness, NEPA/URM compliance, and resilience outcomes (e.g., outage-proof evacuation lighting).
BRIC (FEMA HMA)
- Local applicants apply through the State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO) via FEMA GO. Competitive priorities include community lifelines, nature-based/energy-resilient solutions, and disadvantaged communities. Prepare a clear mitigation nexus, preliminary engineering, environmental review path, and a BCA demonstrating risk reduction and avoided losses from outages/storm impacts.
Tip:
- Mark application deadlines early and assign a single project lead to manage submissions across multiple funding programs.
Step 4 – Plan for Follow-Up
Applying is only the beginning. Most Florida grant and rebate programs require ongoing communication and accountability:
Provide Extra Documents
- Be prepared to submit supplemental materials, such as site maps, technical drawings, or updated budgets, if reviewers request clarification.
Keep Receipts & Reports
- Programs like Resilient Florida and USDA REAP require proof of expenses and progress reporting. Organise documentation from the start to stay compliant.
Highlight Impact
- Track and report measurable benefits, safer intersections, reduced utility costs, or storm-ready performance. Demonstrating results not only satisfies current funders but also strengthens your position for future applications.
CDBG-DR
- Expect strict HUD compliance: procurement (2 CFR), environmental review, duplication-of-benefits checks, Section 3/LMI reporting, and quarterly performance/financial reporting. Keep invoices, installation records, asset logs, and community benefit metrics (e.g., safety improvements, outage performance).
BRIC
- Maintain documentation supporting the mitigation objective, BCA assumptions, and as-built details. Follow FEMA HMA environmental/historic preservation conditions and submit progress and closeout reports with performance data (e.g., illumination availability during outages).
Tip: Treat follow-up reporting as an opportunity to build long-term trust with funders and pave the way for future grant approvals.
Why Solar Lighting Fits Florida’s Grant Priorities
Florida’s grant programs are built around resilience, safety, and cost efficiency, and off-grid solar lighting checks every box. By staying on through hurricanes, floods, and outages, solar lighting ensures communities remain safe and connected when the grid fails. It eliminates costly trenching, cabling, and monthly utility bills, delivering long-term budget relief for municipalities, schools, and developers. At the same time, it advances Florida’s clean-energy and carbon-reduction goals while extending reliable, equitable lighting to rural and underserved areas that traditional grid systems often leave behind. In short, solar lighting isn’t just eligible for Florida’s top grant programs; it embodies the very outcomes these initiatives are designed to achieve.
Conclusion: Your Path to Funded Solar Lighting
Applying for grants takes preparation, but the payoff is lasting resilience and lower costs for Florida’s cities, HOAs, schools, and developers. Fonroche Lighting America delivers grant-ready, off-grid lighting solutions that install quickly, withstand storms, and provide 365 nights of guaranteed performance. The funding is available; now it’s time to transform it into brighter, safer communities across Florida.