Community solar makes the benefits of renewable energy accessible to renters, low- and middle-income homeowners, people without suitable rooftops. ILSR defines community solar programs as those that provide shared ownership and virtual net metering, which allows many individuals to receive utility bill credits for the energy generated by a single solar installation.
ILSR evaluates community solar programs in states that allow non-utility ownership.
Many utilities claim to offer “community solar,” but their programs cost rather than save subscribers money, and the utility owns the projects — taking profits that would otherwise go to community subscribers and giving them to utility shareholders. The best community solar programs are surrounded by supportive state policy that allows non-utility entities to build and own solar gardens, establishes a fair price for utilities to pay for community solar power, and sets up a process for billing and crediting subscribers.
Learn more about each state's community solar program:
District of Columbia
Top Resources:
State Community Solar Policy Comparison Table
Community Solar Tracker
Community Power Scorecard
Designing Community Solar Programs that Promote Racial Equity
Beyond Sharing – How Communities Can Take Ownership of Renewable Power
Community Power Map
Recent Community Solar Local Energy Rules Podcast Episodes
Community Solar 2.0 is Coming to Boston — Episode 231 of Local Energy Rules
In Boston, a creative cooperatively-run solar developer is combining the best of Massachusetts’ equity-focused climate opportunities to distribute the benefits of the climate transition.
On Molokai, A Community Cooperative for Energy Sovereignty — Episode 230 of Local Energy Rules
On Molokai, a Hawaiian island and community with the highest utility rates in the country, the resident-led Hoʻāhu Energy Cooperative is using its local knowledge...
Financing Platform Opens the Door to Solar Ownership — Episode 214 of Local Energy Rules
Bracken Hendricks discusses how Working Power, a community development and financing platform, helps community-based organizations retain ownership of clean energy projects and the financial benefits...
10 Years of Minnesota’s Community Solar Program — Episode 202 of Local Energy Rules
Pouya Najmaie discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Minnesota’s community solar program, its many regulatory and legislative changes over the years, and how utility Xcel...
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