“When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t”
Thomas Edison
Do you like the idea of cheaper energy that also happens to be renewable? If so, solar checks both boxes. But rooftop solar isn’t for everyone. Could community solar be an option for you?
Community solar is way for people to reap the benefits of solar energy without putting panels on their roofs. Signing up for one of these programs is like joining a health club instead of building a a home gym, or becoming a member of a neighborhood pool instead of digging up your back yard.
Here’s how it works: individuals typically pay a subscription to join in on a large solar array owned by a utility, company, or other organization. The array feeds energy to the grid, then members get a credit from their utility. Because the cost of solar energy is low, customers save money on their monthly power bills.
Some benefits of community solar:
- Allows renters, or owners in multi-tenant buildings, to access solar
- Provides an option for homeowners who get too much shade
- No upfront investment
- Typically saves customers on their energy costs
- More easily scalable than equipping individual homes
- Helps solve climate change by reducing fossil fuel demand
Some downsides of community solar:
- Not everyone has access where they live
- Some programs have waiting lists
- There can be local regulatory hurdles to getting programs running
- Programs usually require a contract or subscription
What can we do?
A quick online search will tell you if you might have access to a community solar program. You can also reach out to your power company, or look on their website to see if they offer one.
One thing I love about my neighborhood is the mature trees, but all the shade at my house means rooftop solar doesn’t make sense. Community solar would be perfect. Sadly, it’s not in my area yet. New sites keep cropping up, so if it isn’t an option for you either, hopefully it will be soon. Saving money while using clean energy is a no-brainer.
Let’s do something about climate change. Learn about it. Think about it. Talk about it.