The primary goal of a project manager is to ensure the project is completed on time and on budget. Your community will need to decide relatively early on in the process how to manage the development and construction of its renewable energy project. 

Your two basic choices are to:

1. retain management within your community
2. contract management out to another party.

The size and type of your project will play an important factor in this decision.

For smaller rooftop solar projects, your community, with some support and training from the manufacturer, may have the necessary skills to oversee the project.

For larger wind and water power projects, your community may rely on an outside party - such as a partner or someone independent - to oversee the project.

In either case, your community should be mindful of the opportunity to develop skills and build capacity that will enable you to manage future projects.

If your community chooses to use an outside party to manage the project, it should follow a competitive bidding process when selecting a contractor. Factors to be considered include the contractor's:

• management experience and technical expertise with similar projects
• engagement, reporting and communications process
• project accounting and payments
• use and management of subcontractors
• willingness to provide opportunities for community members to participate.