What Is Community Solar?

According to data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the primary U.S. research and development center for renewable energy, 75% of commercial and residential rooftops are not suitable for solar panels. That means residents and businesses within those buildings need to look elsewhere if they’re interested in adopting solar energy. That’s where community solar comes in.

Community solar, also known as Community Distributed Generation (CDG), is when a large solar array is built and hosted by a nearby landowner, and interested customers can purchase a small percentage of the array. The community array might have a variety of different members including residential, commercial, and industrial energy users, and is open to renters and property owners alike.

In communities across the United States, people are seeking alternatives to conventional energy sources. So far, 24 states are currently participating in some sort of shared renewables program. The universality of shared renewables where the project is being pooled by investments from multiple members of a community to provide power and/or financial benefits can be seen all over the world.

How Community Solar Works

Participating members can pre-purchase, lease, or enter into a PPA to become a part of the community solar array. The members within the community array receive net metering credits which are deducted from their current electric bill.

Members must be within the same utility territory where the project is located, and must have at least an allocation of 1,000kWh annually on their electric bill. Members are not required to have any physical equipment at their home or business. Everything is sent electronically via the accrued net metering credits.

Building a New Solar Community

Are you considering building a solar installation for your community to invest in? Whether you aim to increase energy independence, hedge against rising fuel costs, cut carbon emissions, help increase local jobs, or are looking to community-scale renewable energy projects for solutions other than conventional energy sources, your local community can benefit too.

Advances in solar technology, federal and state tax incentives, and creative new financing models have made solar projects including community solar projects more financially feasible.

We are currently seeking new community solar projects for the WNY area in both National Grid and NYSEG territories.