Community solar is a way to harness solar energy from nearby solar farms to offset your electric bill. It’s a great way to lower energy costs, reduce carbon footprint, and support the local economy.
It also brings together people who need help getting solar on their roofs or the financial means. As more subscribers join, more community solar projects will come online and create a virtuous cycle where clean energy grows to meet demand.
No Up-Front Investment
There are many reasons to join a solar community program, but the best part is that it usually comes with little to no upfront investment. This is especially true if you rent or live in a shady area unsuitable for installing solar panels. Besides that, you’ll get a credit on your electric bill for the clean energy produced by your project. This means you won’t have to pay for electricity out of your pocket and can even take those savings when you move.
To join a solar community program, you need an electric meter so the farm can send its energy into your power grid. The meter helps you keep track of the amount of electricity you use to see how much of your monthly bill you’re saving by going solar. The number of your credits can change month by month due to seasonality, so it’s important to know how the system works before signing up. Also, please read the fine print on any contract you’re considering to ensure it includes all the essential terms.
It’s also a good idea to check with your utility before signing on the dotted line since some fees can be associated with joining a solar community project. In addition, you should ask if any other costs or incentives are included in your subscription’s price.
Lower Electricity Bills
Joining a solar community program can be an easy and effective way to save money on your energy bills. It also helps residents and businesses reduce their carbon footprint, helping to fight global warming.
Unlike residential rooftop solar, there are no up-front costs or installation requirements when you sign up for community solar. You subscribe to a portion of a solar farm, and the resulting electricity credits are applied to your electric bill, offsetting your energy expenses. There are many different types of community-based solar programs. Some are created by utilities, and others by nonprofits. Most are designed to offer annual savings.
Aside from saving you money on your monthly energy bill, community solar can also help your local area become more independent from large power plants. When electricity is produced locally, the grid relies less on big power plants, which can minimize power outages and increase resilience.
Another benefit of community solar is that it can help people shut out from installing their solar panels due to credit issues or financial constraints. New and improved eligibility policies are helping to make community solar more accessible for all Americans.
Clean Energy
Community solar allows consumers to participate in a local, renewable energy project that feeds clean, affordable electricity into the power grid. These projects can reduce your energy bill, increase local job opportunities, and lower your carbon footprint while supporting clean energy. Community solar programs are often free for people who can’t install rooftop panels. If you want to join a program, check with your local utility to find out which community solar farms are available in your area.
A solar community project is a small-scale solar farm connected to the public power grid. It typically has less than five megawatts of electrical capacity and can range from several to hundreds of acres.
Unlike a traditional rooftop installation, subscribers to a community solar farm receive credits for their share of the energy produced by that farm, which is then fed into the public power grid and used to power homes and businesses. This is known as net metering and can save participants up to 10% on their annual electricity bills.
Community Support
If you live in a community that benefits from solar energy, you’re already aware of the incredible opportunity that it represents. It can be a great way to save money and support clean energy simultaneously, regardless of whether you own your home or rent it. One of the most important things about community solar is that it’s designed for everyone in your local community. Historically, dirty fossil fuel plants have been built in low-income neighborhoods with high concentrations of people of color, who suffer the most health effects from air pollution. Another important benefit of joining a solar community program is saving on your monthly electric bill. This is done by receiving net metering credits on your electricity bills for your solar project’s energy. As a result, you’ll see an immediate decrease in your monthly energy bill and lock in those savings for years to come! This is an opportunity that you should take seriously, especially if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint and make an impact on our planet.
