On March 12, 2026, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Integrated Energy Systems Office (IESO) announced the Building Solar Understanding and Risk Education (B-SURE) Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA). On November 10, 2026, IESO announced the selection of six projects totaling $3 million.
The B-SURE program helps consumer protection organizations develop and deliver education and training on rooftop solar for consumers and the professionals who support them. By expanding access to objective, fact-based resources, the program promotes informed consumer choice and helps Americans recognize and avoid misleading or predatory practices in the rooftop solar energy marketplace. Together, the selected projects have the potential to reach 8,000 trusted professionals and 4 million consumers across all 50 states through education, training, and outreach.
Selectees
National Association of Consumer Advocates
Project: National Solar Fraud Prevention Education
Award Value: $650,000
Location: Washington, DC
Description: Led by a nonprofit legal association focused on training attorneys to identify predatory practices and protect consumers, this project will deliver solar-specific education to its nationwide network of attorneys, including best practices for litigating solar fraud.
National Housing Resource Center
Project: National Home Energy Advisors Initiative
Award Value: $650,000
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Description: Led by a housing nonprofit focused on supporting homeowners and home buyers, this project will disseminate information through training curricula (including manuals, recorded modules, toolkits, and consumer-facing resources) to hundreds of housing counselors nationwide.
Extension at the University of Minnesota
Project: Minnesota Solar Consumer Education Initiative
Award Value: $367,000
Location: Saint Paul, MN
Description: Led by the university’s extension program, this project will drive a state-wide effort to deliver direct consumer education resources, train-the-trainer workshops, and online trainings targeting support for tens of thousands of rural residents and farmers.
Energy Trust of Oregon
Project: Oregon Solar Consumer Protection Project
Award Value: $367,000
Location: Portland, OR
Description: Led by a Public Utilities Commission-funded nonprofit, this project will provide training, toolkits, and other consumer protection resources to local governments statewide, including rural Oregon, to help residents, businesses, and farmers avoid solar scams.
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Project: Understanding Consumer Solar—What Households and Small Businesses Need to Know
Award Value: $650,000
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Description: Led by a research and training center focused on supporting credit unions and community development financial institutions in rural and low-income jurisdictions, this national program will equip lenders with tools, knowledge, and practices needed to help households and small businesses navigate rooftop solar decisions safely and effectively.
North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center
Project: Solar Assurance for Empowerment and Trust (SAFE-T)
Award Value: $500,000
Location: Raleigh, NC
Description: Led by a university-based center focused on consumer education and training for energy customers and installers, this project will launch a solar installer certification to evaluate contractors based on ethical sales training and technical standards, verifying reputable professionals throughout the Southeast.
Additional Information
The B-SURE PIA is managed by TechWerx in partnership with DOE, a collaboration made possible through an innovative partnership intermediary agreement set up by the DOE's Office of Technology Commercialization. This agreement enables TechWerx to broaden DOE’s engagement with innovative organizations and non-traditional partners, facilitating the rapid development, scaling, and deployment of energy solutions.
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